Experimental Investigation of a Preloaded Spring-Tab Flutter Model

Abstract

An experimental investigation was made of a preloaded spring-tab flutter model to determine the effects on flutter speed of aspect ratio, tab frequency, and preloaded spring constant. The rudder was mass-balanced, and the flutter mode studied was essentially one of three degrees of freedom (fin bending coupled with rudder and tab oscillations). Inasmuch as the spring was preloaded, the tab-spring system was a nonlinear one. Frequency of the tab was the most significant parameter in this study, and an increase in flutter speed with increasing frequency is indicated. At a given frequency, the tab of high aspect ratio is shown to have a slightly lower flutter speed than the one of low aspect ratio. Because the frequency of the preloaded spring tab was found to vary radically with amplitude, the flutter speed decreased with increase in initial displacement of the tab.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 15, 1947
Accession Number
ADA800851

Entities

People

  • J. G. Barmby
  • N. H. Smith
  • S. A. Clevenson

Organizations

  • Langley Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accelerometers
  • Aeronautical Laboratories
  • Aeronautics
  • Amplitude
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Control Surfaces
  • Control Systems
  • Deflection
  • Displacement
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Frequency
  • Horizontal Stabilizers
  • Inertia
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Springs
  • Surfaces

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.