From Strain Measurements to Rotor Blade Shape and Loads Reconstruction: The BeSaME Project

The BeSaME (Helicopter Blade State and Loads Reconstruction Through Virtual Sensing for Health Monitoring and Performance Enhancement) project develops a virtual sensing framework for the real-time monitoring of helicopter rotor blades. Strain data from embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors are processed using inverse finite element methods and state estimation algorithms to reconstruct blade deformation and sectional loads. Aeroelastically scaled composite blades are manufactured and experimentally tested under static, dynamic, wind-tunnel, and rotating conditions, supported by a validated digital twin. The placement of the sensors is optimized to maximize the accuracy of reconstruction. Preliminary results show sub-percent shape estimation errors and load reconstruction errors below 5%.