Structural Vibration Analysis of a Helicopter Search Light Considering Aerodynamic Buffet Load

In this study, computational structural vibration analysis of helicopter search light exposing unsteady buffet load have been conducted using combined advanced numerical methods. Unsteady CFD method based on Navier-Stokes equations is used to predict viscous buffet load due to flow separation effects. Full three-dimensional finite element model is constructed in order to conduct static and structural dynamic analyses of the search light model for two different typical flight speeds. Also, the correct performance of the search light can be physically estimated to examine the actual lighting area considering the effects of structural deformations.