For optimal rotor performance in a tiltrotor aircraft the difference in the inflow and the rotor speeds between the hover and cruise flight modes suggests different blade twist and chord distributions. The blade twist rates in current tiltrotor applications are defined based upon a compromise between the figure of merit in hover and propeller efficiency in airplane mode. However, when each operation mode is considered separately the optimum blade distributions are found to be considerably different. Passive blade twist control, which uses the inherent variation in centrifugal forces on a rotor blade to achieve optimum blade twist distributions in each flight mode through the use of extension-twist coupled composite rotor blades, has been considered for performance improvement of tiltrotor aircraft over the last two decades. The challenge for this concept is to achieve the desired twisting deformations in the rotor blade without altering the aeroelastic characteristics of the vehicle. A concept referred to as the sliding mass concept is proposed in this work in order to increase the twist change with rotor speed for a closed-cell composite rotor blade cross-section to practical levels for performance improvement in a tiltrotor aircraft. The concept is based on load path changes for the centrifugal forces by utilizing non-structural masses readily available on a conventional blade, such as the leading edge balancing mass. A multilevel optimization technique based on the simulated annealing method is applied to improve the performance of the XV15 tiltrotor aircraft. A cross-sectional analysis tool, VABS together with a multibody dynamics code, DYMORE are integrated into the optimization process. The optimization results revealed significant improvements in the power requirement in hover while preserving cruise efficiency. It is also shown that about 21% of the improvement is provided through the sliding mass concept pointing to the additional flexibility the concept provides for tailoring of the structure without any additional weight penalty on the system.

This work begins by establishing the necessary and sufficient conditions for hygrothermal stability of composite laminates. An investigation is performed into the range of coupling achievable from within all hygrothermally stable families. The minimum number of plies required to create an asymmetric hygrothermally stable stacking sequence is found to be five. Next, a rigorous and general approach for determining designs corresponding to optimal levels of coupling is established through the use of a constrained optimization procedure. Couplings investigated include extension-twist, bend-twist, extension-bend, shear-twist, and anticlastic. For extension-twist and bend-twist coupling, specimens from five- through ten-ply laminates are manufactured and tested to demonstrate hygrothermal stability and achievable levels of coupling. Nonlinear models and finite element analysis are developed, and predictions are verified through comparison with test results. Sensitivity analyses are performed to demonstrate the robustness of the hygrothermal stability and couplings to deviations in ply angle, typical of manufacturing tolerances. Comparisons are made with current state-of-the-art suboptimal layups, and significant increases in coupling over previously known levels are demonstrated.

L'optimisation de la forme des pales en fonction des phases de vol constitue un levier puissant dans ladémarche d'amélioration des performances des hélicoptères et de minimisation de leurs impactsenvironnementaux. Cette thèse propose l'étude et la caractérisation d'un concept permettant, grâce àl'utilisation d'un actionneur passif, de contrôler le vrillage d'une pale d'hélicoptère, en vol, en fonctionde la vitesse de rotation. L'actionneur retenu pour tordre une pale rigide est une plaque compositestratifiée munie d'un couplage traction/torsion et intégrée au sein de la pale. Les travaux développés ontpermis de démontrer la faisabilité de ce concept à l'échelle d'un prototype de partie courante de pale. Enpremier lieu, et ce afin de concevoir une architecture de profil adaptée à ce type de plaque, un modèleanalytique a été développé pour relier les caractéristiques des plaques composites à leur vrillage soussollicitations statique et dynamique. Une formulation simple de la réponse en vrillage a permisd'optimiser les séquencements de ces plaques dans l'objectif de maximiser le couplage en minimisant lesdéformations résiduelles liées au procédé de fabrication. Les plaques optimisées et fabriquées ontensuite été caractérisées sous traction quasi-statique uniforme puis sur un banc rotatif. Plusieurstechniques expérimentales ont été développées dans le but de quantifier le vrillage. Ce travail a conduità l'insertion d'une plaque épaisse dans un profil de pale. Sous un chargement statique, les tronçons ontexposé un vrillage de l'ordre de 2 °.m-1. Ces multiples expériences et les différentes simulationsréalisées permettent d'envisager des essais en soufflerie sur ces prototypes de pales. / Blade morphing optimization during a flight provides a powerful lever to improve helicoptersperformance and reduce their fossil based energy consumption. This PhD thesis examines a newconcept of passive blade twist controlled by the rotation speed. One of the most suitable actuator able totwist a stiff blade is an integrated laminate with extension/twist coupling. Developed work proves thefeasibility of this assembly at a laboratory scale. In a first stage, an analytical model was developed toestimate the twist behaviour of a laminate subjected to static and dynamic loads. This effectivecalculation of the twist response was used to optimize the stacking sequence in order to improve thecoupling and minimize residual stresses due to the manufacturing process. Some optimized plates havebeen manufactured and characterized using uniform tensile test and a rotative bench. Severalmeasurement methods have been developed to quantify twist. This study led to the integration of a thicklaminate in a blade airfoil profile. Under quasi-static axial loading, these blade sections have shownapproximately 2 °.m-1 in twist. Results from experiments and models make it possible to expect windtunnel tests on these adaptive twist blades.