Multivariate Splines-Based Asymmetric Aerodynamic Modeling of Morphing Aircraft

Abstract

The aerodynamic parameters of morphing aircraft can vary significantly in the morphing process; the aerodynamic data model is complex and high-order nonlinear. This paper presents a new method of aerodynamic modeling of morphing aircraft by using multivariate splines. Firstly, the aerodynamic coefficient model of morphing aircraft based on the multivariate splines model structure is presented. This model can describe symmetric and asymmetric aerodynamic forces. Then, the multivariate simple splines estimation process is introduced in detail and the concrete formulation is deduced. Finally, the final model structure is determined by error analysis, and the aerodynamic parameter polynomial model in the global coordinate system is obtained by coordinate transformation. The results show that this method can accurately describe the aerodynamic model of morphing aircraft during arbitrary symmetric and asymmetric morphing process without predicting the specific model structure of the aerodynamic parameters related to varying process.