I would like to model rotor flapping on a fixed pitch multirotor gyrocopter (see aergility.com). In "real life" the rotor experiences a time variant (position dependent) load as it rotates on its axis. I would like to replicate this loading condition and measure the tip deflection which can be quite large (several inches tip deflection on a 9' diameter rotor) and which is influenced by inertial forces. It appears that I can use the dynamic non-linear 3D solver and apply a time variant load to the blade but it does not look like a centrifugal load is available in that mode. Is there a way to emulate the centrifugal forces besides doing a "hand calculation" and applying the centrifugal loads piecewise to sections of the rotor? I can do that if I have to, but I was hoping for a better way if there is one.
Also, if anyone can suggest some reference documentation that would show me how to add a time variant load to the dynamic simulation (I would like to read data out of a file and apply it to the model over time), that would be appreciated.
Comments