The Holistic Analysis of Flexible Aircraft Maneuvering Under Comprehensive Aerodynamic Loading 2004-01-3118
The reduction of a full aircraft structure/loading system from a Cartesian space to a condensed, modal space offers significant computational advantages in complex aero-elastic analysis without sacrificing the system kinematic and kinetic integrity. By combining linear, finite-element (FEA)-based structural analysis with non-linear, mechanical system simulation (MSS), the same modal basis coordinate set is used to represent the aerodynamic loading, structural, and gross motion behavior of maneuvering, high-integrity, full aircraft system models. Examples are shown of full aircraft, comprised of flexible, single-and multiple-structures, performing stores separation, landing, and general maneuvers. These are done using aerodynamic modeling of varying completeness ranging from complete, Panel Method (PM)-derived loads to more simplified, distributed loads. Limits on the validity of the linearity assumptions are discussed