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Aeroelasticity is the branch of physics and engineering that studies the interactions between the inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces that occur when an elastic body is exposed to a fluid flow. Although historical studies have been focused on aeronautical applications, recent research has found applications in fields such as energy harvesting^[1] and understanding snoring.^[2] The study of aeroelasticity may be broadly classified into two fields: static aeroelasticity, which deals with the static or steady response of an elastic body to a fluid flow; and dynamic aeroelasticity, which deals with the body's dynamic (typically vibrational) response. Aeroelasticity draws on the study of fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, structural dynamics and dynamical systems.
The synthesis of aeroelasticity with thermodynamics is known as aerothermoelasticity, and its synthesis with control theory is known as aeroservoelasticity.

History

The 2nd failure of Samuel Langley's prototype plane on the Potomac has been attributed to aeroelastic effects (specifically, torsional divergence).^[3] Problems with torsional divergence plagued aircraft in the First World War, and were solved largely by trial-and-error and ad-hoc stiffening of the wing. In 1926, Hans Reissner published a theory of wing divergence, leading to much further theoretical research on the subject.^[3]

In the development of aeronautical engineering at Caltech, Theodore von Kármán started a course "Elasticity applied to Aeronautics".^[4] After teaching the course for one term, Kármán passed it over to Ernest Edwin Sechler, who developed aeroelasticity in that course, and in publication of textbooks on the subject.^[5][6]

In 1947, Arthur Roderick Collar defined aeroelasticity as "the study of the mutual interaction that takes place within the triangle of the inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces acting on structural members exposed to an airstream, and the influence of this study on design."^[7]

Static aeroelasticity

In an aeroplane, two significant static aeroelastic effects may occur. Divergence is a phenomenon in which the elastic twist of the wing suddenly becomes theoretically infinite, typically causing the wing to fail spectacularly. Control reversal is a phenomenon occurring only in wings with ailerons or other control surfaces, in which these control surfaces reverse their usual functionality (e.g., the rolling direction associated with a given aileron moment is reversed).

Divergence

Divergence occurs when a lifting surface deflects under aerodynamic load so as to increase the applied load, or move the load so that the twisting effect on the structure is increased. The increased load deflects the structure further, which eventually brings the structure to the point of divergence. Divergence can be understood as a simple property of the differential equation(s) governing the wing deflection. For example, modelling the airplane wing as an isotropic Euler–Bernoulli beam, the uncoupled torsional equation of motion is:

GJd2θdy2=−M′displaystyle GJfrac d^2theta dy^2=-M'

Where y is the spanwise dimension, θ is the elastic twist of the beam, GJ is the torsional stiffness of the beam, L is the beam length, and M’ is the aerodynamic moment per unit length. Under a simple lift forcing theory the aerodynamic moment is of the form:

M′=CU2(θ+α0)displaystyle M'=CU^2(theta +alpha _0)

Where C is a coefficient, U is the free-stream fluid velocity, and α₀ is the initial angle of attack. This yields an ordinary differential equation of the form:

d2θdy2+λ2θ=−λ2α0displaystyle frac d^2theta dy^2+lambda ^2theta =-lambda ^2alpha _0

Where:

λ2=CU2/(GJ)displaystyle lambda ^2=CU^2/(GJ)

The boundary conditions for a clamped-free beam (i.e., a cantilever wing) are:

θ|y=0=dθdy|y=L=0displaystyle theta

Which yields the solution:

θ=α0[tan⁡(λL)sin⁡(λy)+cos⁡(λy)−1]displaystyle theta =alpha _0[tan(lambda L)sin(lambda y)+cos(lambda y)-1]

As can be seen, for λL = π/2 + nπ, with arbitrary integer number n, tan(λL) is infinite. n = 0 corresponds to the point of torsional divergence. For given structural parameters, this will correspond to a single value of free-stream velocity U. This is the torsional divergence speed. Note that for some special boundary conditions that may be implemented in a wind tunnel test of an airfoil (e.g., a torsional restraint positioned forward of the aerodynamic center) it is possible to eliminate the phenomenon of divergence altogether.^[8]

Control reversal

Control surface reversal is the loss (or reversal) of the expected response of a control surface, due to deformation of the main lifting surface. For simple models (e.g. single aileron on an Euler-Bernoulli beam), control reversal speeds can be derived analytically as for torsional divergence. Control reversal can be used to aerodynamic advantage, and forms part of the Kaman servo-flap rotor design.^[8]

Dynamic aeroelasticity

Dynamic aeroelasticity studies the interactions among aerodynamic, elastic, and inertial forces. Examples of dynamic aeroelastic phenomena are:

Flutter

Flutter is a dynamic instability of an elastic structure in a fluid flow, caused by positive feedback between the body's deflection and the force exerted by the fluid flow. In a linear system, 'flutter point' is the point at which the structure is undergoing simple harmonic motion—zero net damping—and so any further decrease in net damping will result in a self-oscillation and eventual failure. 'Net damping' can be understood as the sum of the structure's natural positive damping, and the negative damping of the aerodynamic force. Flutter can be classified into two types: hard flutter, in which the net damping decreases very suddenly, very close to the flutter point; and soft flutter, in which the net damping decreases gradually.^[9] Methods of predicting flutter in linear structures include the p-method, the k-method and the p-k method.^[8] In water the mass ratio of the pitch inertia of the foil vs that of the circumscribing cylinder of fluid is generally too low for binary flutter to occur, as shown by explicit solution of the simplest pitch and heave flutter stability determinant.^[10]

For nonlinear systems, flutter is usually interpreted as a limit cycle oscillation (LCO), and methods from the study of dynamical systems can be used to determine the speed at which flutter will occur.^[11]

Play media

Video of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge being destroyed through aeroelastic fluttering

Structures exposed to aerodynamic forces—including wings and aerofoils, but also chimneys and bridges—are designed carefully within known parameters to avoid flutter. In complex structures where both the aerodynamics and the mechanical properties of the structure are not fully understood, flutter can be discounted only through detailed testing. Even changing the mass distribution of an aircraft or the stiffness of one component can induce flutter in an apparently unrelated aerodynamic component. At its mildest this can appear as a "buzz" in the aircraft structure, but at its most violent it can develop uncontrollably with great speed and cause serious damage to or lead to the destruction of the aircraft,^[12] as in Braniff Flight 542. Famously the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge was destroyed as a result of aeroelastic fluttering.^[13]

In some cases, automatic control systems have been demonstrated to help prevent or limit flutter-related structural vibration.^[14]

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Flutter as a controlled aerodynamic instability phenomenon is used intentionally and positively in windmills for generating electricity and in other works like making musical tones on ground-mounted devices, as well as on musical kites. Flutter is not always a destructive force; recent progress has been made in windmills for underserved communities in developing countries, designed specifically to take advantage of this effect. The oscillating motion allows variable-stroke waterpumping to match the variable power in the wind. Semirotary binary flutter can also have an upper critical airspeed at which it stops, affording automatic high wind protection^[10] The resulting Wing'd Pump has been designed to mount on the well it pumps or float on the pond it draws from.^[15] At its large scale the flutter is coupled by static gravity imbalance as well as dynamic imbalance. Further a gravity pendulum achieves large amplitude elasticity most practically.^[16] The same annual output can be achieved with wing length equal to a multiblade rotary windpump's diameter, in half the windspeed regime.^[17] P. Sharp and J. Hare showed a toy linear generator run by two flutter wings.^[18]

The word flutter is typically linked to the form of aerodynamic instability discussed above. Though, a connection between dry friction and flutter instability in a simple mechanical system has been discovered,^[19] watch the movie for more details.

Buffeting

Buffeting is a high-frequency instability, caused by airflow separation or shock wave oscillations from one object striking another. It is caused by a sudden impulse of load increasing. It is a random forced vibration. Generally it affects the tail unit of the aircraft structure due to air flow downstream of the wing.^{[citation needed]}

The methods for buffet detection are:

1. Pressure coefficient diagram^[20]


2. Pressure divergence at trailing edge


3. Computing separation from trailing edge based on Mach number
   


4. Normal force fluctuating divergence

Transonic aeroelasticity

Flow is highly non-linear in the transonic regime, dominated by moving shock waves. It is mission-critical for aircraft that fly through transonic Mach numbers. The role of shock waves was first analyzed by Holt Ashley.^[21] A phenomenon that impacts stability of aircraft known as 'transonic dip', in which the flutter speed can get close to flight speed, was reported in May 1976 by Farmer and Hanson^[22] of the Langley Research Center.

Prediction and cure

Aeroelasticity involves not just the external aerodynamic loads and the way they change but also the structural, damping and mass characteristics of the aircraft. Prediction involves making a mathematical model of the aircraft as a series of masses connected by springs and dampers which are tuned to represent the dynamic characteristics of the aircraft structure. The model also includes details of applied aerodynamic forces and how they vary.

The model can be used to predict the flutter margin and, if necessary, test fixes to potential problems. Small carefully chosen changes to mass distribution and local structural stiffness can be very effective in solving aeroelastic problems.

Media

These videos detail the Active Aeroelastic Wing two-phase NASA-Air Force flight research program to investigate the potential of aerodynamically twisting flexible wings to improve maneuverability of high-performance aircraft at transonic and supersonic speeds, with traditional control surfaces such as ailerons and leading-edge flaps used to induce the twist.

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  Time lapsed film of Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) Wing loads test, December, 2002
  

  
  

  
  


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  F/A-18A (now X-53) Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) flight test, December, 2002
  

  
  

  
  

See also

References

Further reading

• Bisplinghoff, R. L., Ashley, H. and Halfman, H., Aeroelasticity. Dover Science, 1996,
  ISBN 0-486-69189-6, 880 pgs;


• Dowell, E. H., A Modern Course on Aeroelasticity.
  ISBN 90-286-0057-4;


• Fung, Y. C., An Introduction to the Theory of Aeroelasticity. Dover, 1994,
  ISBN 978-0-486-67871-9;


• Hodges, D. H. and Pierce, A., Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity, Cambridge, 2002,
  ISBN 978-0-521-80698-5;


• Wright, J. R. and Cooper, J. E., Introduction to Aircraft Aeroelasticity and Loads, Wiley 2007,
  ISBN 978-0-470-85840-0.


• Hoque, M. E., "Active Flutter Control", LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, 2010,
  ISBN 978-3-8383-6851-1.


• Collar, A. R., "The first fifty years of aeroelasticity," Aerospace, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 12–20, 1978


• Garrick, I. E. and Reed W. H., "Historical development of aircraft flutter," Journal of Aircraft, vol. 18, pp. 897–912, Nov. 1981.


• 
  Patrick R. Veillette (Aug 23, 2018). "Low-Speed Buffet: High-Altitude, Transonic Training Weakness Continues". Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week Network.
  

External links

• Aeroelasticity Branch - NASA Langley Research Center


• DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity


• National Aerospace Laboratory


• The Aeroelasticity Group - Texas A&M University


• NACA Technical Reports - NASA Langley Research Center