Conceptual design optimization for military helicopter maneuverability and agility

Even though the government has recently shown interest for more affordable systems in future military endeavors, the ultimate requirement in tomorrow's battlefield for military helicopters, has been and always will be, maneuverability and agility.;However, the helicopter conceptual design process has traditionally focused on the characteristics of weight, performance, and cost. Maneuverability and agility have seldom, if ever, been a conceptual design driver. Rotorcraft maneuverability and agility attributes should be "designed-in" from the beginning, rather than being treated as fall-outs from more traditional design approaches. The obvious problem in the traditional design approach is the short conceptual design phase. This places an unequal distribution of disciplines which does not allow the use of design freedom to improve quality and integrate disciplines for optimization.;The primary objective of this research is to develop a new approach to integrate rotorcraft maneuverability and agility into a generic conceptual design using an Integrated Product/Process Development methodology. To accomplish this objective successfully, adequate tools should be developed simultaneously.;This research was accomplished by using a unique approach to conceptual and early preliminary aircraft design. The system synthesis and optimization were achieved using statistical methods, specifically Design of Experiments and Response Surface Methodology and using a newly integrated computer program, Preliminary Design, Performance, Stability, and Control (PDPSC) program.;Maneuverability and agility parameters were selected based on mission roles. The existing three included programs, which capture the selected parameters, were modified and integrated in order to more efficiently and accurately search the design space for optimum configurations.;Using DOE/RSM, the optimum configuration was determined and the maneuverability and agility were compared with the baseline values. The handling qualities were also analyzed by using stability and control information obtained from PDPSC. This kind of process and information are very evolutionary for the concept of traditional design. The modern approach towards design should involve a constructional shift of several concepts to an earlier phase. The designer can obtain the information during the conceptual design phase which allows this system to be used throughout the entire design process.;This research demonstrated the increment of maneuverability and agility quantitatively. Through this research, a methodology has been created to conclude that maneuverability and agility can be evaluated during the conceptual design phase.