Aircraft Rotor Blade Static Balancing via Component Moment Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for in-process static balancing of aircraft rotor blades are limited in correcting out-of-balance conditions, often requiring costly scrapping of blades due to constraints in adjusting weight and moment variations during assembly, and do not ensure uniform mass distribution across the blade.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the determination and adjustment of spanwise and chordwise moments of individual components of the rotor blade, such as the spar, trailing-edge pocket, and leading-edge assemblies, using structural adhesive strips and counterweights to achieve balanced assembly, allowing for uniform mass distribution and dynamic balance without the need for additional balancing procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If material is removed or counterweights are molded from the blade to correct balance variation, then the weight and weight distribution of the blade are corrected, but the blade may exceed acceptable limits and require scrapping
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary balancing of individual blade components (spar, trailing edge, leading edge) during assembly before final blade completion. By measuring and adjusting the spanwise and chordwise moments of each component separately using adhesive strips with controlled weights, the system prevents excessive out-of-balance conditions that would require blade scrapping, while ensuring the final assembled blade meets balance requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the blade is assembled with components having varying weight and weight distribution, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but the final blade balance falls outside allowable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into separate components (spar, trailing edge, leading edge) that are manufactured and balanced independently. Each component's spanwise and chordwise moments are measured and adjusted separately using adhesive strips. This segmentation allows manufacturing flexibility for each component while ensuring the final assembled blade achieves precise balance by combining pre-balanced components with target moment values.
Solution Approach 2:
The method adjusts the weight and position parameters of adhesive strips applied to blade components to control spanwise and chordwise moments. By varying the adhesive strip weight, position, and distribution, the system achieves precise balance adjustment for each component, allowing the final blade to meet balance requirements despite variations in individual component weights.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional static balancing procedures are used during blade manufacture, then weight variation is compensated, but severe out-of-balance conditions result in potential blade scrapping
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary balancing of individual blade components (spar, trailing edge, leading edge) during assembly before final blade completion. By measuring and adjusting the spanwise and chordwise moments of each component separately using adhesive strips, the system prevents excessive out-of-balance conditions that would require blade scrapping, while ensuring the final assembled blade meets balance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing process focuses on local adjustment of specific blade components rather than treating the entire blade as a single unit. Each component (spar, trailing edge, leading edge) is measured and adjusted independently at its specific location, allowing targeted correction of balance issues without affecting other parts of the blade, thereby simplifying the overall procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assembling a rotor blade includes determining first spanwise and chordwise moments of a first component of the blade and comparing the first spanwise and chordwise moments to respective target first spanwise and chordwise moments. The first spanwise and/or chordwise moment(s) of the first component is/are adjusted based upon corresponding results of the comparison to provide balancing of the first component. Second spanwise and chordwise moments of a second component of the blade are determined and compared to respective target second spanwise and chordwise moments. The second spanwise and/or chordwise moment(s) of the second component is/are adjusted based upon corresponding results of the comparison to provide balancing of the second component. The balanced first and second components are assembled to each other so that target spanwise and chordwise moments of the blade are met.