Modelling of unsteady aerodynamic characteristics for aircraft dynamics applications at high incidence flight

• Main Author: Abramov, Nikolay
• Published: De Montfort University 2005
• Subjects: 629.132
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.502511

A traditional representation of aerodynamic characteristics based on the concept of aerodynamic derivatives fails to be accurate at high angles of attack due to significant dynamic effects generated from separated and vortical flow. As the possibility of performing controlled flight at high angles of attack has already become a common requirement for modern combat aircraft, the problem of an adequate model for aerodynamic loads at high incidences is the issue of the day. This thesis presents a phenomenological approach to modelling of unsteady aerodynamic characteristics at high angles of attack. In this approach aerodynamic characteristics are considered as a combination of two components having different characteristic time scales which describe the contribution to the total aerodynamic load from the different flow structures. It is assumed that all dynamic properties of the flow are amassed in the' slow' component. To describe its behaviour specially designed nonlinear differential equations are used. Depending on the parameters, this model can reproduce both 'weak' and 'strong' nonlinear effects including static hysteresis. A special identification technique has been developed for the estimation of the model parameters using dynamic wind tunnel test data.