Aeroelastic interactions with flight control of transatmospheric vehicles

The research needed on structural dynamics interactions with digital body dynamics and stability augmentation systems to allow confidence in vehicle design are discussed. This includes high-temperature-gradient effects on two- and three-dimensional total-vehicle elastic mode shapes and natural frequencies; robust control laws tolerant of wide uncertainties in elastic mode data; and compatible mathematical models for dynamic analysis of structures exhibiting low-frequency shell-type elastic modes. The expected use of metal matrix and carbon-carbon composite materials and ceramics with internally circulated cooling fluid will greatly complicate proper modeling and analysis of these interactions