New and existing techniques for dynamic loads analyses of flexible airplanes
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Perry, B., III.
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This paper reviews existing techniques for calculating dynamic loads for flexible airplanes and presents a new technique. The new technique involves the summation-of-forces method of writing dynamic loads equations. Until now this form of the dynamic loads equations has been formulated in the frequency domain. The new technique uses s-plane approximation methods (previously applied only to the equations of motion) to transform the dynamic loads equations from a second-order frequency-domain formulation with frequency-dependent coefficients into a linear-time-invariant state-space formulation. Several numerical examples demonstrate the usefulfness of the new technique and the high quality of the results. In addition, a convergence investigation establishes that the summation-of-forces method converges more quickly (that is, with fewer modes) than does the mode displacement method.
A technique for gust load alleviation (GLA) flight testing that will approximate a turbulence-like excitation of the wing has been devised. An artificial excitation is produced by randomly deflecting inboard control surfaces on the wing, thereby producing incremental loads on the wing. This presentation covers the background and development of the flight test technique and analyses performed to date.
Two flutter suppression control laws wre designed and tested on a low speed aeroelastic model of a DC-10 derivative wing. Both control laws demontrated increases in flutter speed in excess of 25 percent above the passive wing flutter speed. In addition, one of the control laws was effective in reducing loads due to turbulence generated in the wind tunnel. The effect of variations in gain and phase on the closed-loop performance was measured and is compared with predictions. In general, both flutter and gust response predictions agree reasonably well with experimental data.
The relationships between elevon deflection and static margin using elements from static and dynamic stability and control and from classical control theory are emphasized. Expressions are derived and presented for calculating elevon deflections required to trim the vehicle in lg straight-and-level flight and to perform specified longitudinal and lateral maneuvers. Applications of this methodology are made at several flight conditions for the ARW-2 wing. On the basis of these applications, it appears possible to trim and maneuver the vehicle with the existing elevons at -15% static margin.
Comparisons are presented analytically predicted and experimental turbulence responses of a wind tunnel model of a DC-10 derivative wing equipped with an active control system. The active control system was designed for the purpose of flutter suppression, but it had additional benefit of alleviating gust loads (wing bending moment) by about 25%. Comparisions of various wing responses are presented for variations in active control system parameters and tunnel speed. The analytical turbulence responses were obtained using DYLOFLEX, a computer program for dynamic loads analyses of flexible airplanes with active controls. In general, the analytical predictions agreed reasonably well with the experimental data.
This paper presents comparisons of analytically-predicted and experimental turbulence responses of a wind-tunnel model of a DC-10 derivative wing equipped with an active control system. The active control system was designed for the purpose of flutter suppression, but it had the additional benefit of alleviating gust loads (wing bending moment) by about 25 percent. Comparisons of various wing responses are presented for variations in active-control-system parameters and tunnel speed. The analytical turbulence responses were obtained using DYLOFLEX, a computer program for dynamic loads analyses of flexible airplanes with active controls. In general, the analytical predictions agreed reasonably well with the experimental data.
This paper describes and illustrates the capabilities of the DYLOFLEX Computer Program System. DYLOFLEX is an integrated system of computer programs for calculating dynamic loads of flexible airplanes with active control systems. A brief discussion of the engineering formulation for each of the nine DYLOFLEX programs is described. The capabilities of the system are illustrated by the analyses of two example configurations.
The hinge moments, at selected flight conditions, resulting from deflecting two trailing edge control surfaces (one inboard and one midspan) on a high aspect ratio, swept, fuel conservative wing with a supercritical airfoil are estimated. Hinge moment results obtained from procedures which employ a recently developed transonic analysis are given. In this procedure a three dimensional inviscid transonic aerodynamics computer program is combined with a two dimensional turbulent boundary layer program in order to obtain an interacted solution. These results indicate that trends of the estimated hinge moment as a function of deflection angle are similar to those from experimental hinge moment measurements made on wind tunnel models with swept supercritical wings tested at similar values of free stream Mach number and angle of attack.
This paper describes some activities associated with the preliminary design of an active control system for flutter suppression capable of demonstrating a 20% increase in flutter velocity. Results from two control system synthesis techniques are given. One technique uses classical control theory, and the other uses an 'aerodynamic energy method' where control surface rates or displacements are minimized. Analytical methods used to synthesize the control systems and evaluate their performance are described. Some aspects of a program for flight testing the active control system are also given. This program, called DAST (Drones for Aerodynamics and Structural Testing), employs modified drone-type vehicles for flight assessments and validation testing.
A static stability augmentation system (SSAS) with angle-of-attack, pitch-rate, and forward-speed feedback is used to stabilize control-configured rigid vehicles with relaxed static stability. Airplane configurations include a baseline configuration and two representative control-configured vehicle configurations. The first statically unstable configuration has baseline geometry and an aft center of gravity; the second statically unstable configuration has reduced tail length and area and a forward neutral point. Stability, flying-qualities, and maneuverability requirements are imposed on the airplane-SSAS systems. Turbulence responses of the rigid airframe and tail loads are examined in terms of configuration changes for a given control law and in terms of control law changes for a given configuration.
Static aerodynamic loads measurements from wind tunnel tests of a full-scale upper surface blown jet flap configuration are presented. The measured loads are compared with calculations using a method for predicting longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of upper surface blown jet flap configurations.
Results from a wind-tunnel investigation of a large-scale externally blown flap model are presented. The model was equipped with four turbofan engines, a triple-slotted flap system, and a T-tail. The wing had a quarter-chord sweep of 25 deg, an aspect ratio of 7.28, and a taper ratio of 0.4. Aerodynamic loads and load distributions were determined from a total of 564 static pressure orifices located on the upper and lower surfaces of the slat, wing, and flaps. Loads are presented for variations of angle of attack, engine thrust setting, and flap deflection angle. In addition, the experimental results are compared with analytical results calculated by using a potential flow analysis.
An analytical study has been made to assess the loads developed on the horizontal tail of an autopilot-controlled rigid airplane flying in one-dimensional atmospheric turbulence. The root-mean-square values of rigid-airframe responses and tail-load responses were calculated at five flight conditions, and the behavior of these responses was observed in two autopilot modes: pitch-attitude-hold mode and altitude-control mode. It was found that pitch attitude and altitude can be controlled by the simple autopilot with acceptable or no increases in tail loads.
An exploratory analytical study was conducted to analyze problem areas associated with a rigid aircraft controlled by a simple autopilot. The aircraft motion is constrained to the longitudinal phugoid and short period modes. The autopilot characteristics are described. The analytical procedure is explained and stabilizer loads together with some aircraft motions as functions of autopilot gains within the stability boundaries are determined. The effects of center of gravity location and altitude are considered.
Small-scale-model data have shown large static loads on the flap system behind the engines. The large-scale-model tests confirmed the magnitude of these loads and indicated that the relative loading of each flap element depends on the engine-wing-flap geometry. Flap response measurements indicated that the unsteady pressure loading excited the natural vibration modes of the flap system on this model. Since this was a boilerplate model, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the possibility of large vibration loads must be considered for a flight-weight structure. The similarity of the unsteady pressure and flap response spectra for the wind-off and wind-on cases indicated that it may be possible to realistically test flight-weight flap structures on a static test stand rather than endure the extra costs and scheduling problems associated with large-scale wind-tunnel tests. There is a potential flap-temperature problem which if not resolved might preclude the use of materials such as aluminum and the composites in the flap structure.