Flight Loads and Dynamics of Flexible Air Vehicles

Based on the equations of motion of flexible air vehicles including rigid-body modes and elastic structural modes, and applying influence coefficients of linear aerodynamics, a set of equations are derived and a method is presented for analysis of flight loads and dynamic characteristics. The problems in the fields of flight mechanics and aeroelasticity such as static aeroelastic divergence, trim and deformation, aerodynamic loads distribution, flutter and flight dynamics can be solved by the procedure. An airplane with high aspect ratio wings is analyzed, and the results show that the coupling between rigid-body modes and elastic modes is distinct and should not be overlooked.