Wing-tail interaction flutter revisited

Abstract

A study of wing-tail interaction flutter was conducted to determine if this flutter mechanism could introduce an instability below those predicted by isolated surface flutter analyses. For this study analytical models based on an advanced fighter type aircraft were used. A surprising result, the wing trailing edge flap was found to couple with the horizontal tail, was obtained. This flutter mechanism occurred at speeds well below those obtained from calculations based on the surfaces without aerodynamic interaction. Several parametric investigations to determine the cause of this flutter mechanism and to understand it were conducted. In addition, studies to determine the effect of the wing and trailing edge flap on horizontal tail flutter were also conducted. Previous wing-tail interaction flutter studies have concentrated on the effect of the horizontal tail on the wing flutter mechanism with little emphasis placed on the horizontal tail flutter mechanism. The effects of the wing on horizontal tail flutter have received little attention in the open literature. Results from studies of these types of flutter mechanisms are presented here. (Author)