Helicopter Hanger 1

[kieran1]

Our Client has asked that we design him a helicopter hanger consisting of a basic 20m Portal Frame with door on gable. We intend to design it as an opensided building for wind forces etc but where would we get information on Helicopter Weights and forces generated by the rotars Etc. He has not bought a Helicopter yet but wants the building constructed before hand. Are there any standards ? and would appreciate any additional advise on potential problems etc. I imagine the helicopter will land outside the building and will be moved using a trailer of some kind

Kieran

 

[ishvaaag]

I think to start the helicopter within an enclosure may not be the more reasonable thing, hence I assume as you the helicopter will be brought in and out by any trailer. Things able to generate substantial forces to the building enclosure are normally tested outside, and not put to work inside.

There is a downloadable standard for heliports but these understood as superstructure.

Helideck structural requirements
Prepared by
PAFA Consulting Engineers
for the Health and Safety Executive

Respect the forces the helicopter can generate are comensurate to the maximum weights, which vary wildly.

 

[10k]

I was a USMC helicopter pilot in my previous life, and would like to reinforce Ishvaaag's comments. Regardless of what James Bond can do, we never engaged the rotors (or even started the engine) of a helicopter inside a hanger or building. Visualizing such a scenario is enough to give me nightmares. Depending on the size of helicopter and it's type of landing gear, it will either be hand pushed or tractored into and out of the hanger. It will probably be at least one rotor diameter clear of the hanger before the rotors are engaged. The client will need to provide you with his expected operating procedures since they may profoundly impact your structure.

There are too many types and sizes of helicopters to be able to usefully estimate the weight. You need to ask your client which models he has under consideration, and then contact those vendors yourself. They can supply you with wheel (or skid) loadings, rotor diameters, height, etc. You'll need wheel loadings and spacing for floor slab design (and the roof deck if he intends to use the roof as a landing pad).

The rotor wash will not likely affect your main frame design, since the forces dissipate rapidly with distance, but you will want to pay special attention to overhangs, cladding and components that might be subject to those forces, since they will be multidirectional. Again, the manufacturer should be able to provide some guidance if you don't find it in Ishvaaag's reference.

Good luck.