How would you determine the Lift(thrust) force of a Helicopter in hover

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To determine the lift force of a helicopter in hover, weighing the helicopter provides a straightforward method, as lift equals weight when hovering. For testing thrust produced by the rotor, methods include using a spring scale or a strain gauge-based force transducer to measure forces accurately. Wind tunnel testing and established aerodynamic calculations are also utilized to validate thrust measurements. Additionally, resources like books on helicopter aerodynamics were shared, although some links were outdated and no longer functional. Accurate thrust measurement and understanding of aerodynamics are crucial for anyone building their own helicopter.
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I know the lift force equation is .5*rho*V^2*Area*Coefficient. But I was wondering in the real world how would you measure the lift force? I hope they don't just plug the values for the equations.
 
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The easiest way is to weigh the helicopter. If it's hovering, the lift force equals the weight.
 
I was wondering like if you are building your own helicopter what would someone use to test the amount of thrust produced by the rotor?
 
i wonder if bernouilli's equation can be put to use in this case. i know that it can be used when there is wind driving a wind turbine. it should work here
 
I guess you can use Bernoulli to calculate the change in pressure helicopter.
 
i think u can find the maximum power yield by zeroing the velocity at the exit
 
yeah we can find the maximum power yield by zeroing the velocity at the exit

if smbody interested , i caN upload a book on the aerodynamic of the helicopter.
tel me if interested
regards
 
That would be great.
Thanks
 
I will try tmrow , i willl send u a link on rapidshare or mhid.net;
ur welcome and hope that will be helpful
 
  • #10
definitely interested in that:)
 
  • #11
fujifilm6502002 said:
I was wondering like if you are building your own helicopter what would someone use to test the amount of thrust produced by the rotor?
You could do this simply with a spring scale and something to constrain the rotor group to the scale and something to drive it. It is even easier if you have a strain gauge based force transducer because then there would be no axial movement due to the thrust.

In regards to the original question, the airfoils and rotors are well known throughout the flight envelope from wind tunnel testing. The calculations involve effects of trailing blades, etc... Of course, the calculations are always compared to actual testing.
 
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  • #12
fujifilm6502002 said:
I was wondering like if you are building your own helicopter what would someone use to test the amount of thrust produced by the rotor?
To test it, you mount it on a test rig and measure the forces.
 
  • #13
scale down models and wind tunnels are to measure the force.
 
  • #16
http://rapidshare.de/files/22495932/US_Navy_-_Introduction_to_Helicopter_Aerodynamics_Workbook_CNATRA_P-401__US_Navy_2000_.pdf
 
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  • #17
http://rapidshare.de/files/22495355/Seddon_J._-_Basic_Helicopter_Aerodynamics__BSP_Prof._Books_1990_.pdf
 
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  • #18
Thanks a lot
 
  • #19
heyy there can u pls re-upload the file for me pls? i couldn't download the file. actually I am new here. so pls help to guide me :) thanks in advance eh
 
  • #20
hazhand said:
actually I am new here. so pls help to guide me :)

Look at the dates on the posts. This thread has been dead for more than 4 years. It's not surprising the links don't work any more.
 
  • #21
Oh. Thanks a bunch ;-) what a shame. Haishhhh now i hardly find the info.
 
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