Stress and deformation analysis of helicopter propeller made of composite material using Finite element analysis

Composites are inhomogeneous and anisotropic materials which are fabricated by combining two or more materials with different properties. Composite materials are used for the purpose of increasing the strength-to-weight ratio. Composite materials provide flexibility in design because it can be molded into different shapes. Composite materials are widely used in various applications including aviation, shipbuilding, and construction. The present study focuses on the analysis and the strength of a propeller made of metal and the composite material. For the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the composite over the metal, stress analysis is performed on the propeller made of composite and metal. Shear stress, mean deflection, and normal stress were found for both the metal and composite propeller. Results have shown that the composite propeller was found to have safe resonance phenomena. In this study, the stress levels were reduced to get better propeller that can withstand high stresses. The comparison between the metallic and composite propeller was made for maximum deformation and normal stresses.