Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Test of the McDonnell Douglas Five- Bladed Advanced Bearingless Rotor: Performance, Stability, Loads, Control Power, Vibration and HHC Data

The McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company (MDHC) and the NASA Ames Research Center jointly conducted a test of the McDonnell Douglas Advanced Rotor Technology (MDART) rotor in the Ames 40by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel in 1992. The objective of that cooperative wind tunnel test program was to study the dynamic, aerodynamic, and aeroacoustic characteristics of an advanced bearingless rotor to obtain a comprehensive data base. The MDART testing at Ames produced a significant amount of performance, loads, and stability data up to 200 kt and thrusts of 1.8 g. This test was the first wind tunnel test of a full-scale, five-bladed, bearingless rotor. It was also the first test to apply higher harmonic control (HHC) to a full-scale bearingless rotor in order to study its effect on rotor vibration, loads, and noise. This paper summarizes the significant research findings for rotor performance, stability, loads, and vibration. A discussion of the effect of HHC on rotor vibration has been included.

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