CW 2.
Helicopter transmission shafts designing
Helicopter transmission shafts V1, V2 and V3 designing from strength and stiffness requirements in
two options: 1) ring-type cross-section, and 2) round cross-section. Compare these two options, using
transmission shafts total theoretical mass criteria.
Problem initial data is given in the Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1. Helicopter power plant and transmission design parameters
Var. Helicopter Helicopter power plant Transmission ratios
number transmission One engine One engine Portion of tail V1/V2 V2/V3
scheme power at shaft, rotation frequency, propeller power (V1/V3)
kW rev/min
1. 1 900 12000 0.14 7 1.8
2. 2 400 15000 0.15 2.5 3.5
3. 1 1100 12500 0.16 4.5 1.75
4. 2 300 14000 0.17 2.25 3.25
5. 1 5500 9000 0.145 5.2 1.4
6. 2 2500 13500 0.155 1.8 4.25
7. 1 2100 11500 0.165 4.75 1.65
8. 2 950 14200 0.175 2.25 5.25
9. 1 800 12800 0.148 6.6 1.75
10. 2 450 14500 0.152 3.5 2.5
11. 1 1150 11800 0.162 4.25 1.55
12. 2 350 14200 0.147 2.75 3.35
13. 1 4500 9500 0.135 4.8 1.44
14. 2 2500 13500 0.155 1.8 4.25
15. 1 2100 11500 0.165 4.75 1.65
16. 2 920 13200 0.174 2.2 5.1
17. 1 800 12800 0.148 6.6 1.75
18. 2 475 14250 0.152 3.5 2.5
19. 1 1150 11800 0.162 4.25 1.55
20. 2 415 14300 0.147 2.75 3.35
21. 1 4800 9400 0.135 4.8 1.44
22. 2 2550 12950 0.155 1.8 4.25
23. 1 2050 11200 0.165 4.75 1.65
24. 2 970 13100 0.174 2.2 5.1
25 1 999 12720 0,14616 7 1.8
26 2 444 15900 0,1566 2.5 3.5
27 1 1221 13250 0,16704 4.5 1.75
28 2 333 14840 0,17748 2.25 3.25
29 1 6105 9540 0,15138 5.2 1.4
30 2 2775 14310 0,16182 1.8 4.25
31 1 2331 12190 0,17226 4.75 1.65
32 2 1054,5 15052 0,1827 2.25 5.25
33 1 888 13568 0,154512 6.6 1.75
34 2 499,5 15370 0,158688 3.5 2.5
35 1 1276,5 12508 0,169128 4.25 1.55
36 2 388,5 15052 0,153468 2.75 3.35
37 1 4995 10070 0,14094 4.8 1.44
38 2 2775 14310 0,16182 1.8 4.25
39 1 2331 12190 0,17226 4.75 1.65
40 2 1021,2 13992 0,181656 2.2 5.1
41 1 888 13568 0,154512 6.6 1.75
42 2 527,25 15105 0,158688 3.5 2.5
43 1 1276,5 12508 0,169128 4.25 1.55
44 2 460,65 15158 0,153468 2.75 3.35
45 1 5328 9964 0,14094 4.8 1.44
46 2 2830,5 13727 0,16182 1.8 4.25
47 1 2275,5 11872 0,17226 4.75 1.65
48 2 1076,7 13886 0,181656 2.2 5.1
49 1108,89 13483,2 0,152591 6.6 1.75
50 492,84 16854 0,16349 3.5 2.5
Table 2. Shaft length, cross-section form, safety factor, admissible relative twist angle and number
of material
Var. Shaft length, m Ring cross-section Safety adm , °/m Material
number V1 V2 V3 inner/outer diameter factor number
ratio
1. 1.2 5.8 1.0 0.75 2 1.2 4
2. 0.85 1.7 4.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
3. 1.25 6.5 1.4 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
4. 0.95 1.8 5.5 0.8 1.5 0.9 3
5. 2.5 14 3.0 0.75 2 1.2 4
6. 1.45 2.8 8.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
7. 1.35 8.5 1.6 0.695 1.5 1.25 6
8. 0.95 1.8 5.5 0.82 1.5 0.95 12
9. 1.1 5.2 0.9 0.725 2 1.2 4
10. 0.85 1.7 4.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
11. 1.25 6.5 1.4 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
12. 0.95 1.82 5.5 0.8 1.5 0.9 4
13. 2.45 12.2 2.8 0.75 2 1.2 3
14. 1.45 2.8 8.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
15. 1.35 8.5 1.6 0.695 1.5 1.25 6
16. 0.95 1.58 5.5 0.82 1.5 0.95 12
17. 1.2 5.25 1.05 0.75 2 1.2 4
18. 0.825 1.75 4.15 0.775 2 1.1 5
19. 1.125 6.45 1.24 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
20. 1.05 1.68 5.35 0.8 1.5 0.9 3
21. 2.15 13.2 3.05 0.75 2 1.2 4
22. 1.42 2.28 8.15 0.775 2 1.1 5
23. 1.35 8.25 1.56 0.695 1.5 1.25 6
24. 0.92 1.78 5.35 0.825 1.5 0.95 12
25 1.1 5.2 0.9 0.725 2 1.2 4
26. 0.85 1.7 4.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
27. 1.25 6.5 1.4 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
28 0.95 1.82 5.5 0.8 1.5 0.9 4
29 2.45 12.2 2.8 0.75 2 1.2 3
30 1.45 2.8 8.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
31 1.35 8.5 1.6 0.695 1.5 1.25 6
32 0.95 1.58 5.5 0.82 1.5 0.95 12
33 1.2 5.25 1.05 0.75 2 1.2 4
34 0.825 1.75 4.15 0.775 2 1.1 5
35 1.125 6.45 1.24 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
36 1.05 1.68 5.35 0.8 1.5 0.9 3
37. 2.15 13.2 3.05 0.75 2 1.2 4
38 1.42 2.28 8.15 0.775 2 1.1 5
39 1.35 8.25 1.56 0.695 1.5 1.25 6
40 0.92 1.78 5.35 0.825 1.5 0.95 12
41 1.25 6.5 1.4 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
42 0.95 1.8 5.5 0.8 1.5 0.9 3
43 2.5 14 3.0 0.75 2 1.2 4
44 1.45 2.8 8.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
45 1.35 8.5 1.6 0.695 1.5 1.25 6
46 0.95 1.8 5.5 0.82 1.5 0.95 12
47 1.1 5.2 0.9 0.725 2 1.2 4
48 0.85 1.7 4.5 0.775 2 1.1 5
49. 1.25 6.5 1.4 0.725 1.5 1.25 6
50 0.95 1.82 5.5 0.8 1.5 0.9 4
Helicopter with two gas turbine engines and transmission schemes
Scheme 1
1 2
3 4
1 2
3 4 5
1 2
V1 engine shaft (1-2)
V2 transmission shaft (3-4)
V3 tail propeller shaft (4-5)
Scheme 2
7
1 2
5 6
1 2
3 4 5 6 7
1 2
V1 engine shaft (1-2)
V2 transmission shaft (3-4)
V3 tail propeller shaft (5-6)
Annex:
Table A1. Material performance
N Material Su, Sy, A5,% E, GPa G, GPa Poisson Density,
r MPa MPa kg/m3
1 4037 1027 758 6 207 79 0,3 7860
2 Steel 4130 1627 1462 10 207 79 0,3 7860
3 30301 1207 931 12 193 74,3 0,3 8030
4 Ti-6Al-4V 895 828 10 110 42.00 0.31 4420
5 Titan
Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn 1205 1105 8 115 42.00 0.31 4530
6 Ti-13V-11Cr- 1000 850 23 99 43.00 0.3 4820
7 3Al
Al2014-T6 469 414 10 73 26 0,33 2700
8 Al2024-T3 483 345 18 73 26 0,33 2700
Aluminum
9 Al2024-T361 496 393 13 73 26 0,33 2700
10 Al2219-T81 455 352 10 73 26 0,33 2700
11 Al7075-T651 572 503 11 73 26 0,33 2700
12 Al7075-T6 524 462 11 73 26 0,33 2700
13 Al7178-T6 607 538 10 73 26 0,33 2700
