For this kind of rotorcraft a simplified but efficient blade design has to be developed. A new design shall allow the application of easier and manufacturing methods and make the blades as reliable and cost effective as possible. The objectives of the program are to design, fabricate, test and fly the new rotor blade. This program is part of a light helicopter development project. As the blade roots are subjected to the highest loads in the rotating system they can be considered to be most critical in a new development.
Common designs use integrated fiber slings around a single bolt to carry the centrifugal loads.
In the manufacturing process this technique requires skilled and well trained personnel. The new design shall incorporate a lay-up of conventional fiber strips instead. The loads are transferred to the blade spindle by a multiple bolt arrangement. The strength of the proposed bolt joint depends on the combination of layers and their orientation. Various test samples which are scaled down from the original blade section shall be evaluated to determine the best and safest solution.