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Washington University in St. Louis

Foundations for the Coupled Inflow and Structural Dynamics of Multi-rotor Helicopters

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>In this work, the Peters-Seidel finite-state model is expanded to calculate the coupled inflow and rotor dynamics of tandem rotor configurations. This establishes the foundation for a more complete multi-rotor, dynamic inflow model with finite-state methods. The derivation presented in this work is for the general case of two rotors in the same plane, overlapping and separated to varying degrees. It is the purpose of this work to study the unique and interesting dynamics and characteristics of various tandem systems heretofore not studied in a dynamic system. Moreover, it is the goal of this work to investigate how these systems can be modeled in real time for applications to flight simulators. In order to study the dynamic behavior of these systems, the present work will introduce a dynamic inflow model that computes the flow on and above each rotor disk for two interacting rotors. The model must be constructed as such in order to evaluate the effect of each rotor’s inflow on the other. Moreover, this will be the basis for subsequent, generalized multi-rotor dynamic inflow models that can describe the behavior of rotor configurations with both lateral and vertical difference. In this work, the dynamic inflow models of the two rotors are of simple blade flapping, with no in plane motion or torsion, for a finite number of rotor blades in axial flow.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (MS)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Year dc:date.available
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Genter, Ethan
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Dr. David A. Peters
  • Dr. David A. Peters Dr. Swami Karunamoorthy Dr. Shankar Sastry

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • I have not registered my thesis with the U.S. Copyright Office, and do not intend to.
Language dc:language
English (en)

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:eng_etds-1621

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Washington University in St. Louis
Base URL
openscholarship.wustl.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Genter, Ethan. Foundations for the Coupled Inflow and Structural Dynamics of Multi-rotor Helicopters. Thesis thesis, 2021. https://doi.org/10.7936/cb9b-4717