Author Description

Efforts to establish a helicopter research program in structural dynamics at NPS were greatly enhanced when the U. S. Army donated two OH-6A light observation helicopters. One of the helicopters is reserved for ground vibration testing and dynamics research. Vibration measurements are extremely important in predicting and understanding an aircraft's dynamic behavior and durability. A comparison of a helicopters natural frequencies and those frequencies transmitted to the airframe through the rotor system can alert the designer/evaluator to possible dynamic problems. This thesis establishes a baseline vibration test program on the OH-6A helicopter for future testing and comparison to analytic models. The goal of the research is to establish natural frequencies (eigenvalues) principal mode shapes (eigenvectors), and damping characteristics of the OH-6A and to compare these values to test and analytical data obtained from the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company.