Design, development and engineering of a test bench for a helicopter rotor brake

Nowadays, the measurement and testing of aircraft components is fundamental for aerospace companies. This thesis explores the design of a test bench for a helicopter rotor brake. This consists of a transmission with flywheels that simulate the inertia of the helicopter rotor blades. We’re going to select and model respectively commercial and no commercial components. We’re also going to run FEM, CFD and thermal simulations to study brake cooling and to verify structurally the other components. Furthermore, we’re going to use modal simulations and Holzer’s method to characterize the whole drive line (bending and torsional vibrations). Finally, we’re going to discuss solutions for topology optimization of components and we’re going to realize additive manufacturing prototypes of cooling system and brake support. This thesis wants to be an aid and an inspiration for future transmission design.