Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Test Of A UH-60 Individual Blade Control System For Performance Improvement And Vibration, Loads, And Noise Control

A full-scale wind tunnel test of a UH-60A rotor was recently completed in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 40by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel to evaluate the potential of Individual Blade Control (IBC) to improve performance; to reduce vibration, loads, and noise; to affect flight control characteristics; and to perform reconfiguration and in-flight tuning tasks. This test was the culmination of a long-term collaborative wind tunnel test program between NASA, U.S. Army, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, and ZF Luftfahrttechnik GmbH (ZFL). Initial test results are promising, with demonstrated rotor power reductions (up to 5%), multi-parameter hub load reductions, multi-frequency pitch link load reductions, and in-plane noise reductions. Additional results indicate the benefits of IBC for in-flight tuning and show minimal coupling of IBC with UH60A rotor flight dynamics.

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