Aeroelasticity

Credits:

5 ECTS  

Instructor:

Carlo L. Bottasso, Anik Shah, Andreas Vad  

Course Syllabus:

The course describes basic aeroelastic phenomena arising from the mutual interaction of elastic, aerodynamic and inertial forces on a structure, with special emphasis on problems related to fixed wing vehicles. Aeroelasticity plays a major role in the design, qualification and certification of flying vehicles, as it contributes to the definition of the flight envelope and affects various performance indicators. The course is organized according to the following plan:

• Introduction: why aeroelasticity matters, basic concepts in aeroelasticity, examples (including the role of aeroelasticity beyond aeronautical engineering).
• Static aeroelasticity: divergence speed; lift distribution over straight and swept flexible wings; aileron effectiveness and reversal.
• Dynamic aeroelasticity: vibrations of beams and mode coalescence; flutter; transient response, including gust response.

Learning Outcomes:

After successfully completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Comprehend typical aeroelastic problems, understanding the physical principles at play;
• Appreciate the role of aeroelasticity in the design of flying vehicles;
• Derive simple models for the description of basic static and dynamic aeroelastic problems, accounting for all relevant forces;
• Use the models for making quantitative predictions on the insurgence of important aeroelastic phenomena, such as divergence and flutter;
• Understand the limits of the simple methods used in the course, and appreciate how more sophisticated approaches for practical engineering applications are developed.

Course Format:

Teaching method: frontal teaching with multimedia support.

Learning method: exercises and tutorials are held to help students consolidate understanding and knowledge on all topics treated throughout the course.

Course Material:

Course material will be provided by the instructor.

Additional recommended book:

• R.L. Bisplinghoff, H. Ashley, Principles of Aeroelasticity, Courier Dover Publications, 2002.