To read this content please select one of the options below:

Development of integrated rotorcraft design and virtual manufacturing framework

Ngoc Anh Vu (Aerospace Information Engineering Department, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea)
Than Lin (Aerospace Information Engineering Department, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea)
Abdulaziz Azamatov (Aerospace Information Engineering Department, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea)
Tun Lwin (Aerospace Information Engineering Department, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea)
Jae‐Woo Lee (Aerospace Information Engineering Department, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea)

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 17 May 2011

1020

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated rotorcraft design and virtual manufacturing framework. The framework consists of two major sub‐frameworks which are e‐design and virtual manufacturing frameworks. This paper aims to describe the process of generating a specific framework for helicopter design and manufacturing in general, and a method for main rotor blade design.

Design/methodology/approach

The e‐design process integrates a pre‐conceptual, conceptual and preliminary design phases and includes many high accuracy physics‐based analysis tools and in‐house codes. The development of analysis programs and integration of flow data are discussed under the e‐design process. The virtual manufacturing process discusses physical three‐dimensional (3D) prototypes using rapid prototyping, virtual process simulation model development using Delmia Quest, virtual machine tool simulation and process‐based cost model. Vehicle geometry is modelled parametrically in computer‐aided 3D interactive application (CATIA) V5 to enable integration between the e‐design and virtual manufacturing processes, and then saved in Enovia SmartTeam which is commercial software for product data management (PDM). Data saved in Enovia SmartTeam are used as a database for the virtual manufacturing process.

Findings

The integration framework was constructed by using Model Center software. A multi‐disciplinary design optimization loop for rotor blade considering manufacturing factors is discussed to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the framework.

Practical implications

The manufacturing (practical factors) could be considered at an early stage of the rotor blades design.

Originality/value

The gap between theoretical (engineering design: aerodynamic, structural, dynamic, design, etc.) and practical aspects (manufacturing) is bridged through integrated product/process development framework. The modern concurrent engineering approach is addressed for helicopter rotor blade design throughout the case study.

Keywords

Citation

Anh Vu, N., Lin, T., Azamatov, A., Lwin, T. and Lee, J. (2011), "Development of integrated rotorcraft design and virtual manufacturing framework", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 83 No. 3, pp. 171-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/00022661111131267

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles