Large amplitude oscillations of cruciform tailed missiles. Part 1: Catastrophic yaw fundamental analysis

The amplified resonance called catastrophic yaw can be associated to large amplitude equilibrium points of slightly asymmetric spinning cruciform missiles. The steady-state equations of motion in body fixed system of axes permit the analysis of the equilibrium points that define the long-term behavior of the missile in order to avoid this flight condition. This paper presents the fundamental analysis of a simplified nonlinear model of motion capable of exhibiting this flight condition. The model can be used to derive the conservative design condition that assures the low amplitude of the single equilibrium point.