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Old 3rd Jan 2009, 13:18
  #24 (permalink)  
Shawn Coyle
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Philadelphia PA
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Having taught a lot of flight test classes on rotor heads, I'm inclined to say that an elastomeric head is not fully articulated, as the articulation part means that while the blades are free to move, the hinges do not allow moments to be passed across the hinge.
An elastomeric bearing will allow the blades some limited movement, but it will also allow moments to be transferred from the blade to the head. They probably deserve their own designation - all the advantages of the articulated head, with few of the maintenance headaches, and some of the benefits of the rigid head without the issues of exotic metals.
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