Simulation and identification of helicopter rotor dynamics using a general-purpose multibody code

With the purpose of evaluating different model identification strategies and of assisting in the validation of active control designs, a simulation program for the dynamics of the main rotor of the AGUSTA A109c helicopter has been developed (based on a general-purpose multibody code). The program has been applied to the testing of various system identification algorithms, both for time-invariant and time-periodic models of the response of the rotor to perturbations in the control inputs, in simulated experiments.