Normalized Adaptive Hybrid Control Algorithms for Helicopter Vibration with Variable Rotor Speed

Variable rotor speed technology implemented in a helicopter can improve the flight performance, reduce the required power, and increase the flight speed. However, variable rotor speed changes the frequencies of rotor vibratory loads and may produce helicopter fuselage resonance under the excitation of the rotor vibratory loads. Active vibration control (AVC) has been effectively used in vibration reduction of helicopter fuselages. However, the frequency domain control algorithms that are currently used have poor adaptability in controlling vibration with variable frequencies (i.e., during time varying rotor speeds). In order to effectively improve control convergence, adaptability, and effectiveness, the normalized adaptive hybrid control algorithms containing both the normalized adaptive harmonic control algorithm and the normalized frequency tracking algorithm have been presented in this paper. Simulations of AVC with variable frequencies on a dynamically similar frame structure of a helicopter fuselage driven by piezoelectric stack actuators installed on the gearbox support struts show that the normalized adaptive hybrid control algorithms can accurately track the changes in rotor load frequencies and can be effectively used in the AVC of a helicopter with variable rotor speed.