Ryerson University

Department of Aerospace Engineering

AER722 Aeroelasticity Project II

Due: November 30, 2015

A two-dimensional, two-degree-of-freedom thin airfoil of unit span and chord c is mounted in a

wind tunnel via springs kh and k and damping c1 as shown below. The airfoil has mass m
with its center of gravity at xg from the aerodynamic center, and its moment of inertia about the
center of gravity is ICG. Assume quasi-steady incompressible aerodynamics for lift and moment
calculations. Aerodynamic center is assumed at the quarter chord point.

c1

kh

k
c/4

xg
h

x0

1) Using both Lagrangian mechanics and Newton Equations, derive the complete equations of
motion of the aeroelastic system about the quarter-chord point (h is measured downward at the
quarter-chord point). Present the equations in a simple 2x2 matrix form.
Assume incompressible flow with maximum speed Umax=170 m/s and density =1.225 kg/m3, and
the following airfoil parameters, c =0.5 m, m =5 kg, ICG =0.05 kg.m2, kh =10 kN/m, k =2 kN.m/rad,
c1 =10 N.s/m, x0 =0.1 m, xg =0.06 m, and do the following.
2) Write a computer program in MATLAB or MAPLE to solve the 2-DOF equations via Routh
stability criteria. Then, find the critical speed (flutter or divergence) for the airfoil.
3) Study the effects of center of gravity location xg and elastic axis location x0 on the flutter and
divergent speeds, and design these distances to maximize the stability speed range. Show the
results of your study using plots of critical speed variation versus the parameters.
4) Study the effect of translational stiffness by varying kh from 0.1 to 5 times its original value.
5) Study the effect of torsional stiffness by varying the torsional stiffness k from 0.1 to 3 times its
original value.
6) Study the effect of mechanical damping by varying c1 from 0 to 60, and plot critical speed versus
the damping c1.
On the plots of critical speed variation with airfoil parameters (xg, x0, kh, k,c1), indicate the types of
instability (flutter or divergence) obtained in each range of parameter .
Project report format will be posted later.