Following the experience acquired when defining the Eurofar rotor in 1988, the department has actively contributed to the studies carried out in Europe for several years now by participating in several research programs financed in the framework of the 5th PCRD (Adyn, Dart, Tiltaero), which are all centered around the ERICA configuration , proposed by Agusta.
H2T's activities, in the framework of these projects, concern aerodynamic and aeroacoustic optimization studies (in collaboration with the DSNA) of the rotor, along with the analysis of the interactions between the rotor, the nacelle and the wings for the different phases of flight of the tilt-rotor aircraft. The computing methods used are a direct application of the existing knowledge acquired on helicopters (elsA, Host, Mesir). The optimized configurations should be the subject of tests in the DNW/LLF and Onera/S1MA wind tunnels.
Tilit-rotor blade optimization
Turbulent Navier-Stokes calculation of an experimental configuration of wings
and nacelle in conversion phase - the rotor is simulated by a actuator disc
In addition, complementary activities were carried out in parallel, financed by the state, in cooperation with Eurocopter and the LABM (Marseille). In this context, tests were performed in the LABM research wind tunnel in order to simulate the diverse aerodynamic interactions that occur on a tilt-rotor aircraft.
