ME4235

Introduction to Aeroelasticity (ME4235)

Lecture 1
John T. Kim
National University of Singapore
Department of Mechanical Engineering
August 11, 2015

Agenda

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2.
3.
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12.

About the instructor John

Prerequisites
Text books and references
Course outline
Teaching philosophy
Grading and class rules
Aeroelastic triangle of forces
Historical background
Aeroelastic tasks in aeronautical industry
Simple mathematical description
Aeroelastic operators
Summary

ME4235

About the Instructor John

16.5 years of experience at Boeing Commercial Aircraft.
Specialty: fluid-structure-control interaction, a.k.a.,
Aeroservoelasticity, system identification & reduced-order
modeling, structural dynamics, control of structures, unsteady
aerodynamics, composite structures.
Have taught Computational Methods in Aeroelasticity at
Boeing, NASA Langley, AIAA Conf., NAL Bangalore, India.
Associate Fellow, AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics)
Research Associate at GaTech.
Ph.D. from M.I.T. Aero & Astro Dept.
Joined NUS in 2013.
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Prerequisites
ME2134 Fluid Mechanics I
ME2114 Mechanics of Materials II
Familiarity with Structure (Vibration, Natural
Modes, Natural Frequencies), Aerodynamics,
(some) Control.
Familiarity with Linear Algebra, ODE, PDE.
Some familiarity with airplanes.

Familiarity with Subjects (Survey)

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How many of you are NOT familiar with

Structural Mechanics, Strength of Materials?

Dynamics?
Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics?
Linear Algebra?
ODE, PDE?
Classical Control Theory?

How many of you ARE familiar with

Structural Dynamics (Eigenvectors & values)?

Calculus of Variation, Energy Methods?
Mechanics of Composite Materials?
Random Processes?
Modern Control Theory?
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Text Books and References

1. Bisplinghoff, R.L., Ashley, H. and Halfman, H.,

Aeroelasticity. Dover Science, 1996.
2. Hodges, D.H and Pierce, G.A., Introduction to
Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity, Cambridge
University Press, 2011.
3. Y.C. Fung, An Introduction to the Theory of
Aeroelasticity, Dover, 1994.
4. Wright, J.R. and Cooper, J.E., Introduction to Aircraft
Aeroelasticity and Loads, John Wiley & Sons, 2008.
5. Dowell, E. H., A Modern Course on Aeroelasticity,
Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1989.
6. Craig, R.R., Structural Dynamics: An Introduction to
Computer Methods, John Wiley & Sons, 1981.
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Course Outline

ME4235

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Introduction (0.5 wks)

Structures & Structural Dynamics (3 wks)
Aerodynamics (2 wks)
Static Aeroelasticity (2 wks)
Flutter (3 wks)
Gust Response (1 wks)
Miscellaneous Topics Aeroservoelasticy, Nonlinear
effects, Experimental Methods, etc. (1.5 wks)

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Grading and Class Rules

HW (50%)+Mid and Final take home (50%).

Students are allowed to work together on HW but the
final work must be individuals effort.
Students are NOT allowed to work together on take
home quizzes.
Attendance is important.
Be diligent in taking notes!

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Teaching Philosophy
Questions are always welcome!
The only stupid question is question not asked.
Understanding the underlying physics is most important.
There will be plenty of mathematics but it is only used as
a tool, is not the end itself.
My class is not a series of seminars, so please do not
expect beautiful, sophisticated slides.
Will present equations on slides, but oftentimes derive
them on whiteboard.
Will try to strike a good balance between physics and
real applications.
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Lessons of Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (Feb. 2003)

Only engineers and scientists with solid physical

backgrounds can prevent the disasters in the sky!
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Aeroelastic Triangle of Forces

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Aerodynamic
Force

Static
Aeroelasticity

Flight Dynamics
Stability
Dynamic Aeroelasticity
(Structural Dynamics)
Flutter
Gust Loads
Buffet

Elastic
Force

Inertia
Force

Mechanical
Vibration

Aeroelasticity is a study of structure and aerodynamics, how they interact each

other, how the airplane responds under the fluid-structure interaction, how such
an interaction creates detrimental (or benign) effects on the design and
performance of the airplane, and can lead to a potential failure of the structure.
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Aeroservoelasticity

Aeroservoelasticity includes the effect of flight control

systems.
Flexible Airplane Dynamics
Control Surface Motion

Sensor
Inputs

Automatic Flight Control System

Auto-pilot, ride control, flutter suppression, gust and

loads alleviation, etc.
NOTE: Most of airplanes nowadays have fly-by-wire
controls.
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Topics in Aeroelasticity
Topics covered: Divergence, load distribution, control
surface effectiveness, flutter, gust response, random
loads, aerodynamic forces on wings, wind effects on
buildings, aeroelastic tailoring, aeroservoelasticity,
nonlinear effects, experimental methods and flutter
testing.
Static divergence and flutter are the most critical issues
and FAA specifically demands all airplanes be free of
them.

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What is Flutter?

Flutter:
A rapid self-feeding motion, potentially destructive,
excited by aerodynamic forces, in aircraft structures,
control surfaces and bridge engineering - Wikipedia

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continued

Tacoma Narrow Bridge Collapse (Tacoma, WA USA, 1940):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SG&hl=en-GB&v=m686UO68AXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xox9BVSu7Ok

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Glider in flutter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQI3AWpTWhM

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Historical Background

Samuel P. Langleys failed launch of Large Androme A on the

Potomac River (1903) torsional divergence in the wing.

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continued

The Wright brothers utilized warping of the wings to achieve

lateral control (1903).

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continued

Handley Page 0/400 bomber experienced an antisymmetric tail

flutter caused by lack of a torque tube connecting both sides of
elevators (WW I.) the first official record of flutter.

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Fokker D-8 experienced both static wing divergence and wing

bending-torsion flutter.

Read B.A.H. Ch. 1

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theoretical development ( continued)

1. Hans Reissner (1926) theory of wing-load distribution and

wing divergence.
2. Roxbee Cox & Pugsley (1932) theory of loss of lateral control
and aileron reversal.
3. Glauert, Frazer, Duncan, Kussner, and Theodorsen (1920-30)
potential flow theory for flutter prediction
4. Finite element, computational fluid dynamics (CFD),

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Is Aeroelasticity Still Important?

Yes! As modern aircraft is designed to be lighter, bigger, and more

flexible, Aeroelasticity has become the most critical issue in
aeronautical engineering. Furthermore, addition of control
systems complicates the things, and requires understanding of
Aeroservoelasticity.

A380

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Aeroelastic Tasks in Aeronautical Industry

Static Loads
- static aeroelastic
Flutter
- open-loop flutter
- closed-loop flutter
- LCO with nonlinear free-play
- LCO with nonlinear controller
Dynamic Flight Loads
- PSD (linear), TDG (linear & nonlinear)
- Monte Carlo (nonlinear)
Ground Loads
- gear & taxi loads
Engine and Vibration
- engine vibration, wind milling, etc
Methods Development (R&D)

NOTE: LCO Limit Cycle Oscillation

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Functions of the Flutter Engineering Group

Flutter Analysis
Design and Certification
Analysis of Flutter Models
Analysis of Flight Test Airplanes
Others

Flutter Design &

Certification

Testing
Wind Tunnel Flutter Models
Ground Vibration Testing
Flight Flutter Testing
Components Testing

Others
Fleet Support (service bulletins)
Research: Methods and Process
Program planning

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Simple Mathematical Description

The coupled fluid-structure can be thought of as a

plant (structure) with feedback loop (fluid) and the
dynamic pressure as the gain factor.
wing motion
(output)

aerodynamic
force (input)
Structure

(plant)
dynamic pressure

Aerodynamics

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coupled equation ( continued)

Coupled!

q dynamic pressure

1 V 2
2

Coupled Fluid-Structure is homogeneous, self-excited system.

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dynamic instability ( continued )

X X0 e t
A(q)X0 X0

mode tracking of 2D airfoil (continued)

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o Plunging (h) @ V=0

x Pitching (a) @ V=0

Root locus plot:

Im
x
Unstable

V
Stable

o
o

Re

V increasing

V-g plot:
x

(freq.)

g
Unstable

(damping)

o
x

Vf
Stable

o
V

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Creativity is Intelligence Having Fun.

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Concept of Aeroelastic Operators

Can see unifying features of aeroelasticity by introducing
aeroelastic operators:
Structural

3 types
Aerodynami
c

Inerti al

Operators operate on deflection to produce forces.

a) Structural Operators
Linear Spring: F kx
can write Q S(q)
where Q force, F
q deflection , x
S() structural operator, k
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Elastic body in finite d.o.f.: {Q} [kij ]{q}

Q {Q} : column matrix

q {q} : column matrix
S( ) [kij ] : square matrix operator
Continuous beam: EIw'''' p (Bernoullibeam)

Q p
qw
d4
S( ) EI 4 : differenti al operator
dx
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There are also Inverse Structural Operators

q S-1(Q)
Spring: x F / k

S 1( ) 1/k
Elastic body: {q} [k ]1{Q}
ij

S1 ( ) [kij ]1 [cij ]
Continuous beam:

w l0c( x, ) p( )d (c ker nel function )

S 1 ( ) l0c( x, )( )d : integral o perator

Inverse operators operate on force to obtain deflections

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b) Aerodynamic operators
2D section in steady flow:
1
2

= 2
( . )
can write

Q A(q)

where
,
,
1
= 2
2

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continued
can write
q A-1(Q)
where
,
,
1
1

2
1/2

NOTE: Inverse operators often convenient in Aerodynamics.

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More general wing:

pa
wa
A(
)
q0
V
where

pa press. diff @ a.c

Q

q0
1 / 2 V 2
q

wa upwash @ a.c

V
V

Also, wa A-1( pa )

q0

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c) Inertia operators
For concentrated mass:

can write
where

d 2x
F m 2
dt
Q I(q)

Q force, F
q deflection , x
d 2( )
I( ) inertia op erator m 2
dt

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Application to Aeroelastic Problems

Force acting on structure:
QA aerodynamic
QI inertia
QD given external disturbances

May then write (DAlmeberts Principle):

S(q) QTOT QD QA QI
or
S(q) A(q) I(q) QD
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continued

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Summary
Aeroelasticity deals with interaction between
aerodynamics and structures and hence covers a broad
spectrum of topics that are critical in design, analysis,
and testing of airplanes, lifting surfaces, bridges,
buildings, etc.
It would not exist if structures were perfectly rigid.
It requires a comprehensive understanding of fluids and
structures, how they interact. It also requires system
engineering perspective because it is truly an
interdisciplinary field.
In aeroelasticity, structure is the plant subjected to forces
created by aerodynamics and external loads.

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