Characterization and detection of freeplay nonlinearity in aeroelastic systems

Author(s)

Rui Marcos Grombone de Vasconcellos

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2012-08-08

Examining board members

Flávio Donizeti Marques; Elbert Einstein Nehrer Macau; Leopoldo Pisanelli Rodrigues de Oliveira; Marcelo Amorim Savi; Paulo Sergio Varoto

• Advisor: Flávio Donizeti Marques

Abstract

Characterization of nonlinearities in aircraft is critical to the solution of aeroelastic problems where an optimal relation between performance and safety is desirable. Aeroelastic systems are inherently nonlinear. Nonlinearities can be admitted in the project, or may arise at any time during the life of the aircraft, significantly affecting the predicted response by conventional methods of linear analysis and reducing the limits for catastrophic instabilities. Therefore, it is important to characterize, identify and include such non-linear effects to the design and development of aircraft. In this work, through nonlinear time series analysis and identification techniques, the freeplay nonlinearity, very common in control surfaces, is characterized to permit its detection in aeroelastic signals, and the inclusion of its effects in numerical models. A mathematical model of typical section with control surface freeplay nonlinearity is implemented and used to generate a reliable database to test the ability of nonlinear time series analysis methods. The techniques are also applied to experimental data of a wing at high angles of attack, without a prescribed mathematical model, to test the ability of characterizing non-linear behavior. Through techniques such as state space reconstruction, Poincaré sections and determination of system\'s invariants, as the largest Lyapunov exponents, non-linear behavior and transitions are classified. Finally, the techniques are applied to experimental data of typical sections with two and three degrees of freedom with freeplay in the torsional spring and in the control surface hinge, respectively. The results show that the freeplay may generate similar behavior to those presented by non-linear systems with cubic hardening nonlinearity under periodic conditions. However, the subcritical behavior caused by freeplay, and the occurrence of complex nonlinear behavior are features that distinguish these nonlinearities. In an experiment with three degrees of freedom, the freeplay is located in the control surface hinge and characterized by the presented techniques. A model based on an approximating function for the freeplay is used to identify the experimental response and include the nonlinearity in the mathematical model. It is shown that the identified model can reproduce the major part of the non-linear dynamics shown in the experiment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/08459-1 - Nonlinear aeroelastic time series analysis: an experimental study
• Grantee: Rui Marcos Grombone de Vasconcellos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate