Originally Posted by
SplineDrive
Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
What about a bearingless rotor?
A 'bearingless rotor' is rarely totally bearingless, but 'reduced bearing count rotor' doesn't sound as sexy.
I was under the impression that the AH-1Z/UH-1Y is a true bearingless design, and it is successful. However, I suspect that if one wished to scale that up the design team would encounter, and have to account for, the loads and other issues you pointed to.
It's a matter of seeing which ones package reasonably into your specific hub needs. As far as the flexbeam portion of a bearingless design, my comment on strain levels being relatively constant with rotor diameter still applies.
OK, thanks, appreciate the insight.