Integrated actuation system for individual control of helicopter rotor blades

The unique configuration of the rotorcraft generates problems unknown to fixed wing aircraft. These problems include high vibration and noise levels. This paper presents the development and test results of a Terfenol-D based actuator designed to operate in an individual blade control system in order to reduce vibration and noise and increase performance on Army UH- 60A helicopter. The full-scale, magnetostrictive, Terfenol-D based actuator was tested on a specially designed testbed that simulated operational conditions of a helicopter blade in the laboratory. Tests of actuator performance (strike, force moment, bandwidth, fatigue life under operational loading) were performed.