Gust mitigation through closed-loop control. I. Trailing-edge flap response

Abstract

In this work, we quantify and model the unsteady lift response to dynamic flap actuation from wind tunnel experiments at Re = $1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$. The quantification relies on two newly proposed metrics that characterize the dynamic lift hysteresis and allow describing its evolution under different pitching conditions. The modeling strategy yields one nonlinear model and a set of linear models relating the unsteady airfoil lift coefficient distribution to the flap deflection angle $\ensuremath{\delta}$.