th

Flutter and Response

of 2D Wing Segment

Xie Changchuan
2014 Autumn

Content
1Introduction of dynamics aeroelasticity
2Flutter model and mechanism of 2D wing segment
3Solving method of flutter
4Factors affect the flutter and wing/aileron system
5Dynamic aeroelastic response

Main Aims
Understand the flutter----dynamic stability and
its mechanism, aeroelastic response of elastic
aircraft from a 2D wing segment model.

Dynamic aeroelasticity
Major problems

Stability: Classical Flutter

Aero force L

Aerodynamics
Stall flutter
Buzz
L+I
Elastic
Input from
system
Whirl flutter
outside
Deformation
Turbine flutter
Mass/
Inertia

Inertial force I

Dynamic Gust
Response: Maneuver
Block diagram of
dynamic aeroelastic feedback
Drop and ejection
Take off and landing

Linear constant-coefficient ODE for dynamics

 + Gw + Kw = F ( w , t )
Mw
Vibration:

F = G =
F = G
F = F (t )

Free vibration without damping

Damping free vibration
Forced vibration

Aeroelasticity:

F = F (w)

The equation dont include time explicitly,

autonomous equation

No outside exciting(homogeneous).
There could be dynamic solutions, called self-excited vibration

That is dynamic stability problem, FLUTTER

F = F (w, t )

Dynamic response problem

The unique solution of Eq.

Dynamic stability
Stability theorem of linear constant-coefficient system
(Liapunovs first method)

x = Tx

t [0, +) x R
State equation
The necessary and sufficient condition of the zero solutions
exponential stability is, all the eigenvalues of T have negative
n

real part. The exponential stability order is the smallest real part.
The relationship between static and dynamic stability
The dynamic stability covers the static stability. That means
the system is static stable but is not always dynamic stable,
otherwise the dynamic stability gives out static stability.
The static stability can be looked as the special case of dynamic
problem. The eigenvalues of static unstable system has nonnegative real part and zero imagine part.
P
l

For a compress column with follower

force, the system will never lose
stability by static stability criterion, but
according to dynamic stability criterion
the system will flutter.

Flutter model of 2D wing segment

C = 2b

For a wing segment with

pitch and plunge freedoms,
analysis the system at its
static equilibrium state.
V

A ero cen ter

E lastic
center

Airfoilsymmetry thin
Spanunity(1)
Chordc=2b
Air force center1/4 chord
Elastic centere behind air force center
Weight center: behind air force center
Coefficient of torsion spring K

Slope of lifting curveC y

Speed of flowV
Elastic angle + nose up Plunging: h + downward

Weight
center

Mechanism of flutter
Energy balance
of aero force in a
vibrating cycle

Positive
work

Negative
work

Positive
work

Negative
work

(a)
2

0
Phase difference = 0

Elastic and inertial

forces are conservative,
the total work of them in
a constant amplitude
vibrating cycle are aero.

Vibrating
direction

Total work is zero.

Aero
force
Positive
Work

Positive
Work

(b)

Aero force is nonconservative, the total

work in a constant
amplitude vibrating
cycle should be
discussed carefully.

V
0

2
Phase difference = 90
Total work is positive.

Mechanism of flutter
Only consider the additional
aero force induced by elasticity
Aero force by elastic pitching

y

AOA changing of plunging vibrated airfoil.

y is plunging speed, is AOA

1
L = V 2 SC L
2
Positive work on plunging
Exciting effects

L
L

Aero force by plunging speed

Lh =

1
V 2 SCL (h / V )
2

Negative work on plunging

Damping effects

VF
V

R e la tio n o f E x c itin g fo rc e L
a n d d a m p in g fo rc e L w ith
flig h t s p e e d V

Note: The phase difference is assumed to 90. Here it just to illustrate

the possibility of non-conservative aero force to do work. So it is
possible that the system could be excited continually.

The forces and equations of wing segment

Using steady strip theory

Steady ---at every moving instant of wing

segment, take a photo to calculate
aerodynamics ignoring speed(damping term).
It can illustrate the mechanism of flutter.

Aero force by elastic pitching

Elastic restore forces

fh = Khh

finit = mh + m

Inertial forces

L =

1
V 2 SCL
2

m = K

minit = I 0 + (m + mh)

Equations of plunging and pitch movements

Disturbance equations
mh + S + K h h + qSCL = 0

of equilibrium state



S h + I + K qSeCL = 0

S = m

First moment of mass

about elastic center

I = I 0 + m

Rotational inertial (second moment)

about elastic center

Dynamic pressure
of inflow

1
q = V 2
2

Method by equation analysis

Fundamental solutions of linear
homogeneous ordinary equations

= + i

Usually is complex number

Circular frequency

Exponential decay order

h0 0
<0
=0
>0

h = h0et
t
= 0e

Determined by initial conditions

Decayed vibration, static equilibrium solution is stable.

Critical case, the disturbed solution is a vibration with
constant amplitude.
Divergence, static equilibrium solution is unstable.
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Method by equation analysis

Substitute the fundamental solutions into equations

S 2 + qSCL h0
=0

I + K qSeCL 0

m 2 + K h

2
S

If the determinate of coefficient matrix equal to zero,

the equation has arbitrary solutions.

A 4 + B 2 + C = 0
A = mI S 2

B = mK + I K h (me + S )qSCL

C = kh (k qSeCL )
Roots of one variable
quadratic equation

B B 2 4 AC
=
2A
2

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Method by equation analysis

If q = 0

then

K K h
B = mK + I K h = mI (
+
) = mI (2 + h2 )
I
m

B>0

B 2 4 AC = (mK I K h ) 2
K K h 2
= (mI ) (
) = (mI ) 2 (2 h2 ) 2
I
m
2

B 2 > B 2 4 AC > 0

are two negative roots

1 = i

2 = ih

Equations degrade into free vibration problem.

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Method by equation analysis

If q > 0

and B > 0

In case B 2 4 AC > 0

are still two negative roots

1 = i q 2 = ihq

There are 2 vibrations whose frequency

are different with free vibration.

In case

B 2 4 AC < 0

are two complex roots, one of which has positive real part.
Divergence, static equilibrium solution is unstable.

B 2 4 AC = 0

is one real root

determine the critical case

The smallest positive dynamic
pressure is qF

Discussing: If the negative flutter dynamics pressure has some

physic meaning? If it is possible qF equal to 0?

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Frequency coincidence
In the case of using
steady aerodynamics

Typical q- and
q-locus
qF
Homework:
In q- diagram, what
shape of the locus after
flutter dynamic pressure?
Please draw the curves and
discuss from necessary
formula.

qF

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Method by eigenvalues (Stability theorem)

mh + S + K h h + qSCL = 0



S h + I + K qSeCL = 0

Aeroelastic
equations
In matrix form
Set new variable
Then

 + Kx = 0
Mx
x = y

x 0
y = M 1 K

x
Let z =
y

h
x=

I x
0 y

State
equation

z = Tz

According to the stability theorem, calculate the engenvalues of T

to judge the stability of equilibrium solution.
Draw the locus of engenvalues real part with dynamics pressure
to give out smallest flutter speed.
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Method by eigenvalues (Stability theorem)

Aeroelastic
equations
Fundamental
solutions
Substitute into
equations

 + Kx = 0
Mx
x = x0 e t

h
x=

2 Mx + Kx = 0
Kx = 2 Mx

Gives out general eigenvalue problem.

It is equivalent to the problem of state equation.

Homework
Please deduct the aeroelastic equations using
energy method or Lagrange equation.

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Flutter of wing/aileron system

Positive
work

Energy balance
of aero force in a
vibrating cycle

Negative
work

Positive
work

Negative
work

(a)
o

Aero force induced by

aileron deflection is
similar to pitching.
The flutter mechanism
of wing/aileron is
analogy to that of wing
segment with pitching
(b)
and plunging.

Phase difference = 0
Total work is zero.

Vibrating
direction
Aero
force

Positive
work

Positive
work

V
o
Phase difference = 90
Total work is positive.

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Factors affect flutter

Bending/torsion stiffness
increase proportionally can promote flutter speed
increase separately, the changing of flutter speed is indetermined

Relative position of weight, elastic and aero centers

weight center moving forward, elastic center moving backward can
promote flutter speed

Mass effects
including wing store, fuel tank
Configuration of lifting surface
increasing taper ratio with constant span and area of wing can
promote flutter speed

Flight altitude
density variation of air
Affects of compressibility of air (Mach number)
subsonic
transonic
supersonic

almost constant
dropping/concavity
increasing
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L h

Aeroelastic response
Free-free rigid wing segment
encounters gust

V
2b

w g(t)

Vt

Assumptions:
Ignoring pitching movement,
Horizontal speed keep constant,
Steady strip theory

Segment massM Plungingh + upward

Slope of lifting lineCL
Speed of wind profile: wg(t) + upward
Additional aero force by plunging
Additional aero force by gust
Equation of segment plunging

y

1
V 2 SCL (h / V )
2
1
Lg = V 2 SCL ( wg / V )
2

Lh =

1

Mh = VSCL ( wg h)
2

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Aeroelastic response
Equation rewriting

h = ( wg h)

Supposed initial conditions

VSCL

h(0) = h(0) = 0

2M

Integrate the equation

h(t ) = wg ( )(1 e (t ) )d
0

Convolution integral
/Duhamel integral

Step gust (Sharp edge gust):

wg

Substitute into displacement formula:

Response of acceleration:
Response of overload factor:
Maximum overload

h(t ) = wg t

wg

(1 e t )

h(t ) = wg e t
h(t ) wg t
n(t ) =
=
e
g
g
nmax

hmax VS wg
CL
=
=
g
2 Mg

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Aeroelastic response

Kh

Elasitc wing segment

encounters gust
Assumptions:
Ignoring pitching movement,
Horizontal speed keep constant,
Steady strip theory

wg(t)

C
Vt

Segment massM
Plungingh + upward

Slope of lifting line CL Plunging stiffness: K h

Speed of wind profile: wg(t) + upward

Homework
Please deduct the plunging response when a wing segment with
plunging spring encounters gust. In case of step gust, calculate the
displacement, acceleration response and maximum overload factor.
Please draw the necessary curves and discuss the effects of
plunging stiffness on response.

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