Finite State Dynamic Wake Interference Modeling for Rotorcraft Simulation

One of the challenging tasks in the high fidelity rotorcraft simulation is the development of an accurate and efficient mathematical model for rotor aerodynamic interference. Most existing rotorcraft simulation programs rely on either empirical factors or the tables to calculate the rotor interference. This paper summarizes the formulation of a lifting rotor aerodynamic interference model based on the finite state dynamic wake theory. The complicated rotor wake problem is solved from the fundamental fluid dynamics in terms of a state space representation. The solution thus obtained is applicable in both steady and maneuver flight. Therefore, it can be used to replace the empirical or other table look-up methods and to render a simulation reconfigurable for a variety of rotorcraft models.