Item 1518
OTHER:
Helicopter - Inside - Intermeshing - Pros & Cons vs. ABC Coaxial
Coaxial
Intermeshing

Advantages of Intermeshing:
The disk areas and their relationship to each other gives the Intermeshing configuration a superior lift/power ratio to that of the coaxial. The Flettner Fl 282 had a 16 lbs to 1 hp ratio. See also: Intermeshing Information - Coaxial ABC versus Intermeshing ABC
The Intermeshing configuration has a larger disk area and lower disk loading for the same rotor diameter. Or conversely, smaller rotors for the same disk loading.
There will be a smaller aerodynamic interaction between the two rotors on the Intermeshing configuration. On one side of the Coaxial ABC, the strong downwash from the advancing blades of the upper rotor will create a vibration on the retreating blades of the lower rotor. On the Intermeshing ABC the advancing blades are below the retreating blades on both side. This means that the Intermeshing retreating blades are in the lower velocity of the downdraft of the advancing blades. More information on this subject see; Vibration - Rotor Induced - Analysis of Coaxial
In Addition, on the Intermeshing ABC, the strong downwash from the outer portion of the advancing blade is outside the rotor disk of the other rotor.
Downwash on the fuselage during cruise: The circumferences of the reverse velocity regions (no thrust) are more above the fuselage on the Intermeshing then on the Coaxial.
The Intermeshing is truly symmetrical and it therefore realizes the associated advantages; such as reduced cross-couplings.
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Coaxial:

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- The rigidity of modern rotors and blades is increasing. This results in the vertical distance between the rotors and the craft's center of mass being decrease. This vertical distance on Intermeshing rotors is less than the mid-rotor distance on the coaxial rotors. In turn, this must result in quicker responses to pitch and roll commands.
- The Intermeshing configuration is a slightly better configuration for a canard; should it be desired. Ref:
OTHER: Helicopter - Inside - Interleaving - w/ Canard Wing
- If a mechanical means of Independent Root and Tip flight-control is desired, it may be impossible for the Coaxial to locate all four flight-control assemblies in the same general location.

Advantages of Coaxial:
A slightly smaller footprint.
See Future X2 and S-69 (XH-59) ABC, then see if Sikorsky is able to come up with more.

Quotations from 'Implications of the Low Tip Speed Design Philosophy' by the rotorcraft aerodynamist Wieslaw Stepniewski:
"At the same disk loading (interpreted as loading per disk of one rotor) relative induced drag of the ABC/synchropter [Intermeshing] configuration should be somewhat lower than that of the co-axial. However, at high cruise speeds, beginning at 200 knots, those gains will be small."

Crudely clipped from PPRuNe posting and Modified for Intermeshing Configuration.
Why the Intermeshing is more convenient for unprepared landing sites than the Coaxial is;
Based on the Boeing 737-700 criteria.
Coaxial rotors with a disk area of 522 sq-ft. fits in a square of 26 x 26 = 666 sq-ft.
Intermeshing rotors with a disk area of 522 sq-ft. fits in a rectangle of 22.5 x 20 = 450 sq-ft.
The above does not include the fuselage.

Temporarily copied from Tilt-rotor vs Interleaving 1505.html: May adapt to Coaxial in future.
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Individual Twin Disk: |
Intermeshing Twin Disks: |
Interleaving Twin Disks: |
Tilt-rotor V-22 |
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Radius of Individual Disk: |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 [19.04 1] |
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Stagger: |
~ |
2.5 |
11 |
11 [46.58 1] |
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Total Area of Disks: |
314.3 |
628.6 |
628.6 |
127.3 [9114.8 1] |
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Area of Overlap (Circular Segments): |
~ |
284.1 |
107.1 |
~ |
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Area Excluding Overlaps: |
314.3 |
344.5 |
521.5 |
127.3 [9114.8 1] |
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Total Lateral Span: |
20.0 |
22.5 |
31.0 |
20 [84.55 1] |
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Total Longitudinal Span: |
20.0 |
20.0 |
20.0 |
9 [76.16 1] |

Additional Advantages:
Intermeshing Information - Coaxial ABC versus Intermeshing ABC
OTHER: Aerodynamic - Rotor Disk - Dual Configuration - Intermeshing ~ Advantages

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Last Revised: March 8, 2007