Efficient sensitivity analysis for rotary-wing aeromechanical problems

A new sensitivity analysis method that employs a chain rule differentiation approach helps compute the sensitivities of hub loads and rotating blade root loads to variations in blade design parameters. The algorithm in the new method utilizes the features of fuselage equations of motion, blade formulations and solution technique to determine the sensitivities. Elucidation of the fuselage by nonlinear Euler equations and inclusion of nonlinearities in the mathematical model for blade yield a model that is suitable for turning and straight flight.