Nonlinear Aeroelastic Response of High-aspect-ratio Flexible Wings

The aeroelastic analysis of high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft that features high-aspect-ratio flexible wings needs take into account structural geometrical nonlinearities and dynamic stall. For a generic nonlinear aeroelastic system, besides the stability boundary, the characteristics of the limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) should also be accurately predicted. In order to conduct nonlinear aeroelastic analysis of high-aspect-ratio flexible wings, a first-order, state-space model is developed by combining a geometrically exact, nonlinear anisotropic beam model with nonlinear ONERA (Edlin) dynamic stall model. The present investigations focus on the initiation and sustaining mechanism of the LCO and the effects of flight speed and drag on aeroelastic behaviors. Numerical results indicate that structural geometrical nonlinearities could lead to the LCO without stall occurring. As flight speed increases, dynamic stall becomes dominant and the LCO increasingly complicated. Drag could be negligible for LCO type, but should be considered to exactly predict the onset speed of flutter or LCO of high-aspect-ratio flexible wings.