TY - GEN
T1 - Development of a novel high authority piezoelectric actuator for rotor blades with trailing edge flaps
AU - Szefi, Joseph T.
AU - Mockensturm, Eric
AU - Smith, Edward C.
AU - Wang, Kon Well
AU - Rehrig, Paul
AU - Centolanza, Louis
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Conventional piezoelectric ceramic flap actuators have exhibited inadequate levels of stroke and/or force required to produce an angle of rotation in excess of ±5° at 40 Hz for full scale medium sized rotorcraft. Single crystal piezoelectric actuators represent a revolutionary advance in piezoelectric actuator technology. Because crystal electromechanical properties are significantly different than those of ceramic, it should be expected that the use of crystals requires motion amplification techniques that are tailored to crystal behavior. This paper describes a new, high authority trailing edge flap actuator concept for helicopter rotor blade vibration control that has been specifically designed for single crystal stack actuators. Invercon has analytically and experimentally evaluated the feasibility of using single crystals together with a novel, high-moment, highdisplacement, buckling beam flap actuator concept, which is well-suited for single crystal stack actuation. Experimental results show that the buckling beam actuator can dramatically outperform state-of-the-art flap actuators with the capability of displacing a 36 " flap ±5° at 40 Hz under representative aerodynamic loading at 400 RPM. Such actuators also consist of less parts, and are significantly lighter than existing designs. This technology may also enable future Army technologies such as swashplateless rotors and trailing edge flaps for heavy lift rotorcraft.
AB - Conventional piezoelectric ceramic flap actuators have exhibited inadequate levels of stroke and/or force required to produce an angle of rotation in excess of ±5° at 40 Hz for full scale medium sized rotorcraft. Single crystal piezoelectric actuators represent a revolutionary advance in piezoelectric actuator technology. Because crystal electromechanical properties are significantly different than those of ceramic, it should be expected that the use of crystals requires motion amplification techniques that are tailored to crystal behavior. This paper describes a new, high authority trailing edge flap actuator concept for helicopter rotor blade vibration control that has been specifically designed for single crystal stack actuators. Invercon has analytically and experimentally evaluated the feasibility of using single crystals together with a novel, high-moment, highdisplacement, buckling beam flap actuator concept, which is well-suited for single crystal stack actuation. Experimental results show that the buckling beam actuator can dramatically outperform state-of-the-art flap actuators with the capability of displacing a 36 " flap ±5° at 40 Hz under representative aerodynamic loading at 400 RPM. Such actuators also consist of less parts, and are significantly lighter than existing designs. This technology may also enable future Army technologies such as swashplateless rotors and trailing edge flaps for heavy lift rotorcraft.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884311649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884311649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84884311649
SN - 9781617829314
T3 - Annual Forum Proceedings - AHS International
SP - 839
EP - 849
BT - AHS Internaitonal 62nd Annual Forum - Vertical Flight
T2 - 62nd American Helicopter Society International Annual Forum 2006
Y2 - 9 May 2006 through 11 May 2006
ER -