Lead-Lag Test Damper Design for Helicopter Rotors

Overview

Parker LORD lead-lag dampers are critical components in the helicopter rotor system that prevent potentially catastrophic instabilities like ground and air resonance. Fluidlastic dampers have complex internal fluid interactions that require sophisticated design tools to model. The task was to design damper with adjustable fluid features. This would provide useful experimental data to help Parker LORD innovate current lead-lag dampers

Objectives

The objective of this project is to design a modified fluidlastic damper that allows adjustment of the
orifice, annular gap, and annular communication flow paths while installed in the test machine.

Approach

• Research was conducted to understand the project
• Meeting with Parker LOAD were set up to better understand the project and develop customer
needs
• A project statement was created, and technical challenges were identified.
• Engineering specifications were made and refined over the course of the project
• Preliminary research led to creating a functional mode
• Concept generation and score were used to select viable solutions
• Initial designs were developed in inventor
• FEA was used to validate the potential solutions
• Hand calculations were done backup FEA results
• Solutions were refined, tested, and 3D printed
• Final solutions were evaluated in order to ensure all engineering specification were met

Outcomes

• Fully designed lead-lag damper in which the orifice, annular, and leak gap are adjustable
• Allows Parker LORD to save resources when design lead-lag dampers