Circular area loading

The circular area loading (also called rotor area loading ) represents the ratio of the maximum take-off weight of a helicopter to the rotor area. It is given in Newtons per square meter . ${\ displaystyle ({\ frac {N} {m ^ {2}}})}$

definition

Rotor area

The rotor area is the area that the rotor blades of a helicopter sweep over during one revolution. The diameter of this rotor area corresponds to the rotor diameter.

Calculations

Rotor area:

{\ displaystyle A = \ pi r ^ {2}}

where represents half the rotor diameter in meters. ${\ displaystyle {r}}$

Rotor circle area loading:

{\ displaystyle = {\ frac {G} {A}}}

where represents the maximum take-off weight (in Newtons ) and the rotor area in . ${\ displaystyle {G}}$ ${\ displaystyle {A}}$ ${\ displaystyle m ^ {2}}$

The rotor load decreases with the same maximum take-off weight and increasing rotor area.

Others

The rotor area load is a fundamental design variable for helicopters, which is used in the construction of a helicopter to z. B. to determine the required rotor power.

In the case of small helicopters, the load on the rotor circuit is kept as low as possible, since these basically only have a single-engine drive and a main rotor that is too small represents a heavy load on the engine. For reasons of weight and cost, the main rotor of large helicopters is usually designed to be smaller, which leads to a larger load on the rotor area, which is acceptable, however, since these helicopters have more than one drive unit.

The value of the rotor area load on a main rotor is usually 100 to 500 . ${\ displaystyle {\ frac {N} {m ^ {2}}}}$

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Walter Bittner: flight mechanics of the helicopter. Technology, the flight dynamics system helicopters, flight stability, controllability. 3rd, updated edition. Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg 2009, ISBN 978-3-540-88971-7 .
↑ ^a ^b Niels Klußmann, Arnim Malik: Lexicon of aviation. 3rd, updated edition. Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg, 2012, ISBN 978-3-642-22499-7 , p. 231.

[Bittner-1] Walter Bittner: flight mechanics of the helicopter. Technology, the flight dynamics system helicopters, flight stability, controllability. 3rd, updated edition. Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg 2009, ISBN 978-3-540-88971-7 .

[Lexikon-2] Niels Klußmann, Arnim Malik: Lexicon of aviation. 3rd, updated edition. Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg, 2012, ISBN 978-3-642-22499-7 , p. 231.