Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
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.
OK, thanks, appreciate the insight.
There is typically an inboard shear bearing between the flexbeam and inboard end of the blade. Often a lag damper is installed there as well. The bearing transmits shears, allows for blade pitch and has some misalignment capability to handle flap and lag motions.