A Systematic Review of Mathematical modelling of rotor–fuselage coupling in helicopters: Methods, Architectures, and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Mathematical modelling of rotor–fuselage coupling in helicopters remains a critical research domain due to its direct impact on flight stability, vibration characteristics, aeroelastic performance, and structural integrity. This paper presents a comprehensive systematic review of modelling techniques developed in recent years, focusing on analytical, numerical, and hybrid approaches used to capture the complex interactions between rotor dynamics and fuselage motion. The study evaluates multi-body dynamics formulations, finite element-based aeroelastic models, reduced-order models, and data-driven techniques incorporating machine learning and physics-informed neural networks. Findings indicate a progressive shift from purely physics-based high-fidelity simulations toward hybrid frameworks that balance computational efficiency with accuracy. Additionally, the integration of generative AI for model approximation and uncertainty quantification is emerging as a promising direction. This review contributes by synthesizing methodological advancements, identifying limitations in current modelling frameworks, and outlining future research directions for robust, scalable, and real-time rotor–fuselage interaction modelling.