Effects of rotor blade icing on helicopter flight performance

Based on the rotor icing tunnel derivation formula, and combining with the rotor icing model and discrete rotor aerodynamics model, the lift force, drag force and flapping incremental coefficient of each rotor disk area were calculated, the UH-60A helicopter nonlinear flight dynamics model in icing condition was established. Combined with the engine power data, the effect of icing-related variables on the maximum level flight speed, maximum vertical climb rate and the maximum climb rate were studied in detail by changing the icing conditions. Results show that, when the atmospheric temperature is between 0℃ and -10℃, lowering atmospheric temperature can severely degrade the flight performance; liquid water content has a certain influence on the selected performance indexes; median volumetric diameter has little effect on the maximum level flight speed, and the impact on climb performance can be neglected; the flight performance indexes linearly decline with icing time.