Date of Award

Summer 2004

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Dr. Jim Ladesic

Committee Member

Dr. Jean-Michell Dhainaut

Committee Member

Dr. Richard P. Anderson

Abstract

The focus of this research proposal is the investigation of the aeroelastic effects of a flexible lift augmentation system (LAS) wing. This research involves characterization of the forced vibration response of a wing appendage used to augment short field take off and landing (STOL) operations.

Although flutter theory is now well understood, the LAS presents the complications of a highly deformable airfoil shape as well as larger structural damping values compared to metal wings.

The proposed research will involve derivation of the equations of motion aided by experimental data from nodal excitation of the wing; stiffness and rigidity modeling from static wing loading and collection of flight test data to characterize the potential flow around the membrane wing.

The knowledge gained from this research will be of critical importance in assuring the safety of flight by identifying the critical flutter speeds, as well as establishing a good basis for the structural design of future lift augmentation structures.

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