Composite rotor blades tests essential before mounting on gyroplane

The article presents the course of the composite rotor blades tests. Object of study was designed in Institute of Aviation, new airfoil for gyroplane rotors and technology of manufacturing carbon rotor blades were made. When the test program was developed, we focused for special test to check not only typical rotor blades properties but also composite structures thereby technology of manufacturing. One of the basic rotor blades test is to determine the breaking force, which, taking into account the safety factor, cannot exceed the maximum centrifugal force occurring on the rotor blades during flight. The first step of rotor blades tests was static test, which gave us answer about stiffness in plane of low stiffness and torsional stiffness, it’s very important properties related to vibrations. Another mechanical properties measured during tests were centre of gravity and mass moment of inertia in rotor blade. Next step was dynamic test – tracking and balancing verification. After static and dynamics, which has proper results – good balance and no vibration on the entire range of rotational speed – rotor blades can be use on fly object. After getting proper results of static and dynamic test next step was a specially prepared test, which defined the time needed for delamination to take place. During the delamination tests, the rotor blade was subjected to adequate loads that occur in horizontal flight. That kind of test is basis to determine service life of rotor blades.