Academic Year 2016/2017

01AAJMT Aeroelasticity
Ex. 7 - Flutter of the Typical Section - 02/12/2016, 09/12/2016

Let us consider the typical section in Fig. 1. In particular,

P is the shear center. C is the center of mass. Q is the aerodynamic center. T is the three-quarter
chord. x = e a. The chord, c, is 2b.

h and are the plunge and pitching degrees of freedom. kh and k are the spring stiffness values. h
and are the uncoupled natural frequencies at zero airspeed. U is the airspeed.

m is the mass of the structure. IP is the moment of inertia with respect to P . IC is the moment of
inertia with respect to C, i.e. IC = IP + mb2 x2 .

Figure 1: Typical Section.

Under the assumption of steady aerodynamics, the equations of motion of the typical section are the following:

m(h + bx ) + kh h = L
(1)
IP + mbx h + k = b(1/2 + a)L

With lift, L = 2 bU 2 .

Ex. 7a: Natural Frequencies and p-Method Roots

Assessments

Discarding the aerodynamic contribution L and assuming a simple harmonic solution (h = hexp(it),
p p
= exp(it)), prove that h = Kh /m and = K /IP .

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 Including the aerodynamic contribution and assuming as a solution the exponential h = hexp(t),
= exp(t), rewrite the equation of motion.

Let us introduce the following dimensionless quantities: r2 = IP /(mb2 ). = h / . = m/( b2 ).

V = U/(b ) (reduced Velocity). p = b/(U ). Divide all the equations by mU 2 . Prove that

p2 + (/V )2 x p2 + 2/ h/b 0
= (2)
x p2 r2 p2 + (r/V )2 2/(a + 1/2) 0

Compute the characteristic polynomial.

Ex. 7b: p-Method Roots with Unsteady Aerodynamic Terms

Let us assume the following lift:
h i
L = 2 bU U + h + b(1/2 a) (3)

Recalculate the characteristic polynomial.

Ex. 7c: Theodorsen Unsteady Aerodynamics and pk-Method

Let us assume the following lift and pitching moment:
h i
L = 2 bU C(k) U + h + b(1/2 a) + b2 (h + U ba)
h i (4)
M1/4 = b3 h/2 + U + b(1/8 a/2)

where k = b/U is the reduced frequency and C(k) is the Theodorsen function. Assume for the structural
part the exponential solution of the p-method, whereas assume a pure harmonic solution for the aerodynamic
part. Prove that the determinant the pk-Method under the Theodorsen aerodynamics is the following:
 
 p2 + (/V )2 k2 / + 2ikC(k)/ p2 x + k(i + ak) + (2 + ik(1 2a))C(k) /
   

  
 p2 x + ak2 ik(1 + 2a)C(k) / 8r2 (p2 + 1/V 2 ) + 4i(1 + 2a)(2i k(1 2a))C(k) k(k 4i + 8a(i + ak)) /(8) 
    

(5)

Ex. 7d: Matlab Aided Practice on p-Method

Let us consider a rectangular cross-section as a typical section having thickness (t) equal to 0.002 m and chord
(c) equal to 0.5 m. The density of the material is 2700 kg/m3 , and e = 0. The bending frequency (fh ) is 4
Hz.
Assessments

1. Assume: steady aerodynamics, a = 0.3, f = 20 Hz, the density of the air is 1.225 kg/m3 . Compute the
flutter speed and frequency, and the divergence speed. Describe the type of motion via the eigenvalues
at U = 20 m/s, U = 20 m/s, U = 70 m/s, U = 90 m/s.

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 2. Assume: steady aerodynamics, f = 20 Hz, the density of the air is 1.225 kg/m3 . Compute the flutter
speed and frequency for a = 0.1, a = 0.3, a = 0.5, a = 0.7.

3. Assume: steady aerodynamics, a = 0.3, f = 20 Hz. Compute the flutter speed and frequency for the
following air densities: 1.225, 0.8, and 0.5 kg/m3 .

4. Assume: steady aerodynamics, a = 0.3, the density of the air is 1.225 kg/m3 . Compute the flutter
speed and frequency for the following torsional frequencies: f = 5 Hz, f = 10 Hz, f = 15 Hz,
f = 20 Hz, f = 25 Hz.

5. Assume: a = 0.3, f = 20 Hz, the density of the air is 1.225 kg/m3 . Compute the flutter speed and
velocity including h and in the aerodynamics.

6. Assume: a = 0.3, f = 20 Hz, the density of the air is 1.225 kg/m3 . Compute the flutter speed and
velocity including h and in the aerodynamics.

7. Assume: a = 0.3, f = 20 Hz, the density of the air is 1.225 kg/m3 . Compute the flutter speed and
velocity including h and and h and in the aerodynamics.

Ex. 7e: Matlab Aided Practice on pk-Method and Theodorsen

Unsteady Aerodynamics
Repeat point 7d-2, 7d-3 and 7d-4 using the pk-method and the Theodorsen aerodynamics.