Progress Report of Cooperative Program for Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Graphite/Epoxy Composite Helicopter Shafting.

The applicability of graphiteepoxy composite technology to the fabrication of a UH-1 helicopter tail rotor dirve shaft is demonstrated. Seven tubes have been fabricated and partial testing has been accomplished on three shafts made from these tubes. Fabrication techniques have been sufficiently improved to eliminate wrinkles due to lack of precure compaction. Test confirm design analysis of the adhesive bond between aluminum end couplings and the composite tube. Predicted weight savings by flight testing a standard length shaft specimen and a longer one built to the design extreme of the best composite commercially available will be confirmed. Author, modified-PL