Project Report

Modelling and Analysis of Swash Plate

of a Helicopter

Group Members : Mohammad Uzair Shah (20)

Muhammad Omer Farooq (28)
Contents

1 Modelling and Analysis of Swash Plate of Helicopter 4

1.1 Abstract: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 Introduction: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 Body: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3.1 Parts: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.4 Assembly: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.5 Analysis: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.5.1 Position Analysis: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.5.2 Dynamic Analysis: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.5.3 Sensitivity Analysis: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.6 Conclusion: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Modelling and Analysis of Swash
Plate of a Helicopter

1.1 Abstract:

We modelled parts of helicopter along with the swash plate, assembled the parts to
produce proper motion and then analyzed our assembly to check whether the design
will run smoothly or not. We did three types of analysis on our assembly that are
sensitivity analysis, position analysis and dynamic analysis. The results were
satisfactory.

1.2 Introduction:

A swashplate (also known as slant disk), is a device used in mechanical engineering to

translate the motion of a rotating shaft into reciprocating motion, or vice versa. A
swashplate consists of a disk attached to a shaft. If the disk were aligned perpendicular
to the shaft, then rotating the shaft would merely turn the disk with no reciprocating effect.
But instead the disk is mounted at an oblique angle, which causes its edge to appear to
describe a path that oscillates along the shaft's length as observed from a non-rotating
point of view away from the shaft. The device has many similarities to the cam.
A helicopter swashplate is a pair of plates, one rotating and one fixed, that are centered
on the main rotor shaft. The rotating plate is linked to the rotor head, and the fixed plate
is linked to the operator controls. Displacement of the alignment of the fixed plate is
transferred to the rotating plate, where it becomes reciprocal motion of the rotor blade
linkages. This type of pitch control, known as cyclic pitch, allows the helicopter rotor to
provide selective lift in any direction.
1.3 Body:

1.3.1 Parts and Assemblies:-

The pictures of our assemblies alongwith their parts are given below:

Assembly Figure 1
Modelling and Analysis of Swash Plate in a Helicopter

1. Body

Figure 1.1

2. Back Wing

Figure 1.2

3. Shaft

Figure 1.3
4. Ball Bearing Assembly

Assembly Figure 2

5. Base

Figure 2.1
6. Base link

Figure 2.2

7. Swash Plate

Figure 2.3
8. Ball Bearing Assembly

Assembly Figure 3

9. Inner Ring

Figure 3.1

10. Outer Ring

 Figure 3.2

11. Ball Ring

Figure 3.3

12. Ball

Figure 3.4

13. Top Plate

 Figure 1.4

14. Wing

Figure 1.5

1.4 Type of Connections for Parts :

1.4.1 Back Wing

We used pin joint connection for back wing so it gives rotatory motion about its axis.
A servo motor is also applied to rotate it.
1.4.2 Bearing

We used pin joint connection for the ball bearing. In bearing, connection is made in such a
way that only inner ring rotates.

1.4.3 Shaft

We used pin joint connection for main shaft; as it is directly connected to engine. We used
servo motor for that purpose.
 1.4.4 Swash Plate

We used cylinderical joint for swash plate; so it can rotate as well as well as translate.

1.4.5 Top Plate

We used pin joint connection between main shaft and top plate.
1.4.6 Wing Pin Joint

Each wing is pin jointed with the top plate so it can only give rotatory motion. Through this
rotation of wing the lift produced by it changes.

1.5 Dynamic Analysis

1.5.1 Position Analysis

Position Analysis for Swash Plate with respect to y

There is linear variation in COG in y-axis. The graph curve falls linearly as time passes.
Position Analysis for Swash Plate with respect to z

There is no variation in COG because all the movement is in y plane.

Position Analysis for Swash Plate with respect to x

There is no variation in COG in X direction as the line is constant in the graph because all the
movement is in y plane.
Position Analysis for Wing with respect to z

There is no variation in COG in Z direction for wing as the line is constant in the graph.

Angular Position Analysis for Wing

COG in y-direction falls because of downward movement of wing. After some time, when arm
reaches its extreme position the COG position approximately becomes constant. The minute
variation is due to the vibration of the wing.
1.5.2 Velocity Analysis

Velocity Analysis of Swash Plate

Velocity firstly drops and then again rises as evident from the graph.

Velocity Analysis of Wing

Variation of velocity in x-direction is very complex. It can be taken as sinusoidal movement

1.5.3 Acceleration Analysis

Acceleration Analysis of Swash Plate

Variation of acceleration is very complex as shown below

Acceleration Analysis of Wing

Acceleration rises and falls when wing starts to rotate. After some time, the acceleration
approximately becomes constant.
Forces Reaction on top plate

The force reaction plot on top plate is shown in the following graph

Force reaction on wing due to position change

The force reactions on wing change as it moves which is also obvious from the following
graph.
Sensitivity Plot

It is a linear straight line which shows

Connection reaction on top plate

The forces also arise due to the connections on top plate. The trend of these forces is shown
below
1.6 Conclusion:
We performed dynamic analysis on both swash plate assembly and the top plate
assembly.Through the analysis we came to know that by the upward and downward motion
of swash plate the angular position of the wings change.Through the analysis we also came
to know that by moving the swash plate about 3.5 mm upward or downward, the wings angle
change by approximately +1.3 and -1.3 degrees respectively.As the blade angle changes the
lift produced by them also changes.In this way,swash plate functioning is fully expressed by
it.As we already know back wing only work for torque cancellation and does not help in lift,
so we did not used a swash plate for it.