Flight Dynamics Simulation Modeling and Control of a Large Flexible Tiltrotor Aircraft

Abstract

A high order rotorcraft mathematical model is developed and validated against the XV-15 and a Large Civil Tiltrotor (LCTR) concept. Separate modeling of each rotorcraft component in a multi-body like formulation allows for structural flexibility to be included, which is important when modeling large aircraft where structural modes affect the flight dynamics frequency ranges of interest. Details of the formulation of the mathematical model are given, including derivations of structural, aerodynamic, and inertial loads. Flexibility effects are evaluated by looking at the nature of the couplings between rigid-body modes and wing structural modes and vice versa. A proportional-integral feedback on the structural acceleration is used to improve damping and reduce the overall excitation of a structural mode. A model following control architecture is then implemented on full order flexible LCTR models. The impact of structural feedback investigated. A rigid aircraft model has optimistic performance characteristics, and a control system designed for a rigid aircraft could potentially destabilize a flexible one. The various control systems are flown in a fixed-base simulator. Pilot inputs and aircraft performance are recorded and analyzed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA609770

Entities

People

  • Ondrej Juhasz

Organizations

  • San José State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Cyber
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Closed Loop Systems
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Control Systems
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Tilt Rotor Aircraft
  • Tilt Wing Aircraft

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Robotics and Automation.