Dynamics of a Helicopter-Slung Load System

Abstract

Stability of a tandem rotor helicopter (347/HLH) carrying a slung cargo container has been investigated. Lagrange equations were used to write the equations of motion. The cables of the sling were modeled as massless rigid extensible rods, which collapse under compressive loads. Extensibility was provided by considering the rods as linear spring with viscous damping. Aerodynamics of the cable were neglected. Tabulated static aerodynamic data were considered for the helicopter as well as the load. The equations were divided into two sets, one representing the towing vehicle (referred to as Subsystem 1) and the other representing the slung load (referred to as Subsystem 2). Subsystem 2 corresponds to a wind tunnel model of a slung load.