Cohen, Gary, M2017-06-132017-06-131991Cohen, Gary M (1991) A design study of a scale model bearingless helicopter rotor system using composite materials, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22844>http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22844A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering.The use of advanced composite materials in helicopter rotor systems offers opportunities for improvements in aerodynamic geometry, performance, weight, damage tolerarice, maintenance and operating costs. Technical aspects of the design and analysis and the-practical aspects of the manufacture of a composite rotor system are discussed herein. The rotor system was compared to an existing conventional teetering rotor system, in order to establish the viability of the new composite rotor system, This rotor system reduced the number of components by 55% and the manufacturing time by half, due to the simplicity of the design and lay up procedure, thus making the system economically more viable. The mass was predicted to within 1% of that achieved in practice and gave a mass advantage of 50.5% over the conventional rotor. Static tests identified the failure modes and stress concentration points, while. the comparative hover tests showed the system to have ±20% less drag. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]Online resource (265 leaves)enRotors (helicopters)--Design and constructionThesis