Tip Displacement Estimation Using Fiber Optic Sensors for X2 Technology Rotor Blades
Derek Geiger, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation; Seung Bum Kim, Patrick Bowles, Claude Matalanis, Brian Wake, United Technologies Research Center
May 17, 2016
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Tip Displacement Estimation Using Fiber Optic Sensors for X2 Technology Rotor Blades
Authors / Details: Derek Geiger, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation; Seung Bum Kim, Patrick Bowles, Claude Matalanis and Brian Wake, United Technologies Research CenterAbstract
Rotor-state feedback will be important to realize the full capability of next generation high speed, highly efficient rotorcraft with attributes such as X2 Technology. Being able to sense and regulate rotor tip clearance on an X2 Technology rotorcraft will maximize its capability while maintaining safety of flight without requiring an overly conservative design. One concept for acquiring rotor tip clearance is to use a strain-displacement transformation to indirectly estimate blade tip displacement. This strain-displacement transformation relates on-blade strain measurements, acquired from fiber optic sensors, to blade deformation using a minimum number of sensors and the measured or estimated blade structural properties. Testing on a simple cantilever beam and on a model-scale rotor operated in the UTRC Pilot Wind Tunnel demonstrated feasibility of the concept. Even in the presence of airflow and centrifugal load, the tip displacement estimation did not exceed 7% deviation from reference sensor readings. The performance and endurance of the fiber optic sensors and sensing hardware were also studied during the tests.
