AIRFOIL FLUTTER:
In aerodynamic design, airfoil flutter is an important consideration because it can be the cause of large amplitude oscillations that could lead to structural failure of the airfoil.
This was a project conducted as part of the Dynamics course at Olin College. The aim was to implement several models using steady and quasi-steady aerodynamics and study the ability of the model to predict the behavior of an airfoil at different airspeeds below, at and above the critical airspeed. In particular, the prediction of the critical speed and the ability of the model to accurately predict airfoil plunge and pitch displacements were studied.
Through this project, we have concluded that a model implementing steady aerodynamics is able to accurately predict the critical airspeed at which flutter occurs because it is a better model of the steady-state response of the airfoil. However, a model implementing quasi-steady aerodynamics is able to more accurately predict the plunge and pitch behavior of the airfoil becuase it attempts to account for time-dependent effects of the airstream on the airfoil. Despite these conclusions, this project was limited by our ability to accurately determine some of the parameters of our model as well as account for other factors effecting the airfoil. As such, future work should take into account other non-linearities of the system as well as attempt to better determine the parameters of the system such as damping coefficients and the contribution due to dry friction.
This was a project conducted as part of the Dynamics course at Olin College. The aim was to implement several models using steady and quasi-steady aerodynamics and study the ability of the model to predict the behavior of an airfoil at different airspeeds below, at and above the critical airspeed. In particular, the prediction of the critical speed and the ability of the model to accurately predict airfoil plunge and pitch displacements were studied.
Through this project, we have concluded that a model implementing steady aerodynamics is able to accurately predict the critical airspeed at which flutter occurs because it is a better model of the steady-state response of the airfoil. However, a model implementing quasi-steady aerodynamics is able to more accurately predict the plunge and pitch behavior of the airfoil becuase it attempts to account for time-dependent effects of the airstream on the airfoil. Despite these conclusions, this project was limited by our ability to accurately determine some of the parameters of our model as well as account for other factors effecting the airfoil. As such, future work should take into account other non-linearities of the system as well as attempt to better determine the parameters of the system such as damping coefficients and the contribution due to dry friction.
You can download a copy of the full report from the download link at the bottom of this page. You can also view the full report at the following link:
| dynamics_project_fall_2013_final_writeup.pdf |