Innovative scaling laws for aeroelastic and aeroservoelastic problems in compressible flow

Active flutter suppression of a two dimensional wing section in subsonic flow is studied. The equations of motion of a typical cross section are presented in nondimensional form. A two degree of freedom problem, with pitch and plunge dynamics, combined with a trailing-edge control surface is considered. Aerodynamic loads are expressed in the time-domain using Roger's approximation. Augmented aerodynamic states are reconstructed using a Kalman filter, and linear optimal control is used to design a full-state feedback regulator for flutter suppression.; Recent advances in the area of adaptive materials, smart structures, have led to the use of such materials as actuators for aeroservoelastic applications. The attractiveness of such materials consists of their potential to introduce continuous structural deformations of the lifting surface that can be exploited to manipulate the unsteady aerodynamic loads and prevent undesirable aeroelastic effects such as flutter. A general formulation of the aerodynamic loads, based on thin airfoil theory, and the deformation of a flat plate wing section are used to calculate the amount of power required to twist a wing along its span with piezoelectric patches. Composite materials enhance bend/twist coupling, which is used to modify the aerodynamic loads for the purpose of flutter suppression.; Scaling laws of aeroservoelastic systems are addressed. Scaling parameters required for maintaining similarity between a full-scale system and a model are studied. An innovative two-pronged approach is used to obtain “similarity solutions” of the aeroservoelastic problem. Changes of structural and aerodynamic variables between a full scale configuration and its scaled models facilitate similarity between the systems. Two cases of scaled models are examined, a geometrically scaled model and an aeroelastically scaled one.; Flutter suppression of a typical cross section employing a trailing edge control surface is compared with that of a typical cross section based on bend/twist coupling actuation. Results indicate that the wing section with bend/twist coupling actuation requires higher power levels to suppress flutter than the typical cross section with a trailing edge control surface.