Nonlinear LCO "amplitude-frequency" characteristics for plates fluttering at supersonic speeds

The nonlinear aeroelastic behavior of isotropic rectangular plates in supersonic gas flow is examined. Quadratic and cubic aerodynamic nonlinearities as well as cubic geometrical nonlinearities are considered in this study. While the aerodynamic nonlinearities are the results of the expansion of the nonlinear piston-theory aerodynamics loading up to the third-order, the geometrical nonlinearities are due to stiffening effects from the panel out-of-plane deformation consistent with the von Karman's nonlinear plate theory. While in vacuum the typical nonlinear hardening frequency vs. oscillation amplitude, one characterized by monotonically increasing amplitudes at increasing frequencies, exists, in the presence of a high-speed flow, qualitative and quantitative changes of the nonlinear relationship are expected. This paper shows how the thin-plate behavior is influenced by the high-speed flows providing the "amplitude-frequency" dependency, which describes the nonlinear oscillations of the considered aeroelastic system.