Research and Development of Advanced Design Approaches for High Performance Composite Rotor Blades

Integration of hardware systems, modern software tools and specifically developed software codes allows improvement of existing and development of new design approaches. The efficiency of the complex process of design of structurally and aerodynamically complex structures such as composite helicopter rotor blades, wind turbines, and fans can be significantly improved in this way. The development of the design process involves the improvement and adaptation of the methodology of designing, integration of the optimization procedures in all phases starting from preliminary design, automation of certain phases of design and increase the level of standardization of certain elements of construction. Within this study, using modern mathematical models of integrated aerodynamic - CFD and structural - FEM calculation, simulation of fluid structure interaction (FSI) with the development of algorithms using the optimization process for each phase of design, procedures for achieving optimal structural, aerodynamic and frequency characteristics of composite structure of the rotor blades will be developed in order to achieve high performance and reduce weight and cost of rotor blades. Optimal usage of computer facilities with specially developed software plug-ins can improve the processes of design, construction of elements of composite rotor blades and the quality and performance of rotor blades.