HALE wing experiments and computational models to predict nonlinear flutter and dynamic response

Experimental and numerical investigations into the linear and nonlinear aeroelastic behaviour of very flexible High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) wings are conducted to assess the effect of geometrical nonlinearities on wings displaying moderate-to-large displacement. The study shows that the dynamic behaviour of wings under large deflection, and specifically the edgewise and torsion natural frequencies and modal characteristics, are largely affected by the presence of geometrical nonlinearities. A modular wing structure has been manufactured by rapid prototyping and it has been tested to characterise its dynamic and aeroelastic behaviour. At first, several simple isotropic cantilever beams with selected crosssections are numerically investigated to extract their modal characteristics. Experiments are subsequently conducted to validate the geometrically nonlinear dynamics behaviour due to high tip displacement and to understand the influence of the beam cross-section geometry. The structural dynamics and aeroelastic analysis of a very flexible modular selected wing is then investigated. Clean-wing wind-tunnel tests are carried out to assess flutter and dynamic response. The wind-tunnel model display interesting aeroelastic features including the substantial influence of the wing large deformation on its natural frequencies and modal characteristics.