Textron Inc.
Adaptable rotor blade design for performance flexibility

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a rotor blade may comprise a blade body, a spar structure, and a blade nose. The blade body may comprise a skin, wherein the skin is configured to form an airfoil shape, and wherein the airfoil shape comprises an inboard end, an outboard end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The spar structure may comprise a first spar cap and a second spar cap, wherein the first spar cap is coupled to an upper portion of the skin, and wherein the second spar cap is coupled to a lower portion of the skin. The blade nose may comprise a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to house a plurality of modular weights at a plurality of radial blade locations, wherein the plurality of radial blade locations comprises a range of locations between the inboard end and the outboard end.