Shakir Jiffri, Hamed H. Khodaparast, Marinos Manolesos, Sebastiano Fichera
DOI Number: N/A
Conference number: IFASD-2019-023
The dynamic responses to aeroelastic gusts/manoeuvres play an important part across much of the design and development of an aircraft and have an impact upon structural design, aerodynamic characteristics, weight, flight control system design, control surface design, and performance. They determine the most extreme stress levels, fatigue damage, and damage tolerance for a particular design. To this end, there has been great interest in efficient loads alleviation in aircraft structures. The ultimate aim of this project is to study the dynamic behaviour of a nonlinear aeroelastic system due to gust loads, and to investigate the use of linear/nonlinear active control with the aim of mitigating vibrations in the system, and reducing the aerodynamic loads that would, in the real world, be introduced into the airframe. The present paper discusses the authors’ existing research which will serve as the foundation for the aforementioned aim of the project. Implementation of techniques such as partial feedback linearisation, the combination in realtime of simulation-based and experimentally measured data during control – which we envisage will play a vital role in the current project – are addressed, including results of closed-loop control of a pitch-plunge aerofoil. As the present research is ongoing – and any significant results are yet to be generated – this paper will present briefly the current status and next steps planned for the project.