Dynamic aero-structural response of an elastic wing model

Abstract

A highly elastic rectangular wing model with a supercritical airfoil was designed and manufactured to study aero-structural equilibrium configurations and aerodynamic damping at various speeds in a subsonic wind tunnel. The supporting structure is a cross-shaped spar. A foam with negligible stiffness is used to provide the aerodynamic surface of the wing. Experimental data are used to examine a coupled algorithm for simulating fluid–structure interaction which simultaneously solves the Euler or Navier–Stokes equations and the structural dynamics equations in the time domain. The elastic wing is modelled by a generalized Timoshenko-type beam with six degrees of freedom for a material cross-section. Correct reproduction of the aero-structural equilibrium shape of the wing model and the deflection under zero lift and nonzero lift conditions, time consistency of unsteady deformations and pressure fluctuations are examined by comparing numerical and experimental results.