Automated Modeling of Rotorcraft Dynamics with Special Reference to Autosim

Some of the more challenging aspects of modeling the mechanical dynamics of rotorcraft systems are addressed in this paper. The generic model here presented contains an articulated rigid-bladed rotor and fuselage. Special attention is given to the building of the main rotor model containing flap, lag and feather blade degrees of freedom for each of the equi-spaced blades. A full descriptive AutoSim model is built, some simulations results are generated and they are processed for comparison with theoretical findings from the literature. Such comparisons show that the results are accurate.lt is concluded that contemporary multibody analysis tools are applicable with advantage to the modeling of complex mechanical-dynamic systems like helicopters.