Simulation of a helicopter in Vortex Ring State through a coupled simulation of multi-body dynamics and aerodynamics

Details

Supervisors

Chatelain, Philippe ; Duponcheel, Matthieu ; Winckelmans, Grégoire

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil mécanicien, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

The Vortex Ring State, also known as VRS, is a very dangerous flight regime that can happen to helicopters. When they are descending at a high rate, helicopters are reaching their own wake such that the vortices of the blades will merge together to form a Vortex Ring around the rotor. In that situation, an inexperienced helicopter pilot will lose the control of its machine, leading to a crash that could be fatal. In order to improve air safety, this complex regime must be studied. In this thesis, we use a coupling between a multi-body dynamics software, that simulates the movements of the helicopter, with an aerodynamics software, which will simulate the motions of the air around it. This coupling makes possible to simulate VRS in order to study them. In this thesis, we analyze how VRS form and evolve by going through the whole descend path of helicopters.