A study of the effect of design parameter variation on predicted tilt-rotor aircraft performance

Abstract

There is currently little data available for trend analysis of tile-rotor performance. This study analyzed the sensitivity of predicted tile-rotor performance to variations in six design parameters: disk loading, tip speed, solidity, download, wing loading, and wing thickness ratio. Two mission profiles were analyzed: a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) mission and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) mission. A tilt-rotor preliminary design code (TR-87) was used to perform computer simulations; and data available from independent tests completed by NASA and the military were encoded in the input data disks. Results were presented as graphs of performance aspects plotted against the parameters varied. Because the study was a trend analysis, no specific conclusions were drawn; but a summary was made of the more significant results. It is hope that the results of this project can serve as a guide to preliminary selection of design parameters for tile-rotor configurations that would be suitable for a broad range of military and civil applications.