Fusion of Single-Point and Distributed Aerodynamic Datasets for Wake Encounter Flight Simulation

Abstract

The paper presents an approach for the fusion of hi gh-fidelity single point aerodynamic datasets with simplified aerodynamic datasets containing pressure distribution information to allow realtime simulation of flight under atmospheric conditi ons with high local wind gradients, where the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the aircraft may no longer be computed based on the wind speed at one point of the aircraft. The approa ch presents a solution that saves the constraint that, for uniform atmospheric disturbances covering the whole aircraft, the distributed aerodynamic model delivers exactly the same forces and moments as the single point data set. This approach is useful for many practical purposes, as very often extensive high fidelity single point aerodynamic data is available from a fusion of flig ht tests, wind tunnel measurements and computations whereas in many cases the pressure dis tribution leading to those forces and moments is not available from the same source or at the sam e level of fidelity. The algorithm is based on influence coefficients describing the contribution of strips or panels of the aircraft to the total aerodynamic force and moments. To ensure consistence with the single point data set, force and moment constraints for homogeneous, uniform disturbances are formulated and a possible solution for their enforcement is presented. Cross-flow effe cts due to the inhomogeneous flow conditions in disturbed air however are neglected.