Modeling and analysis of landing collision dynamics for an active helideck based on the Stewart platform

• Published in: Ocean engineering Vol. 297; p. 117107
• Main Authors: Qiu, Weihan, Wang, Shenghai, Niu, Anqi, Fan, Kunlong, Han, Guangdong, Chen, Haiquan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Dynamic model; Lagrange equation; Shipboard helicopter; Spring damping model; The active helideck; Validation; Validation; Shipboard helicopter; Dynamic model; The active helideck; Lagrange equation; Spring damping model
• ISSN: 0029-8018; 1873-5258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.117107

Helicopters are indispensable in various domains, such as personnel and supply transport, search and rescue operations, and other related fields, owing to their exceptional flight capabilities. Nevertheless, the unpredictable movement of ships can present a significant safety risk for helicopter landings. Consequently, an active helideck, consisting of a Stewart platform and a helideck, has been designed and employed at the ship-helicopter dynamic interface. Moreover, it can maintain a level fuselage and reduce the impact of helicopter landings, potentially allowing for faster and safer landings than relying solely on the magnitude and direction of rotor thrust for landing. This paper presents mathematical models for simulating the dynamics of a helicopter landing on an active helideck of a moving ship. Firstly, the dynamic model of the active helideck is established based on the Lagrange equation and the virtual work principle. Next, the landing collision dynamics is built using the linear spring damping model. The dynamic simulation results then demonstrate the accuracy of the dynamic mathematical model. Subsequently, numerical simulations conducted under various operating conditions confirm that reducing the relative velocity of the helicopter during landing through planning the upper plate of the active helideck can effectively decrease the maximum instantaneous actuating force of the legs. •An active helideck based on the Stewart platform is proposed to provide a smooth landing area for the helicopter.•The active helideck compensates ship motions, maintains horizontal, and absorbs impact energy during helicopter landings.•The Lagrange equation is first used to build the dynamic model for parallel mechanism in non-inertial coordinate system.•The maximum dynamic error is 18.74% during landing, while other moments have errors below 5%, as verified by Adams.•Planning reduces the maximum instantaneous actuating force of the legs by 49.5% compared to an unplanned trajectory.