INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF Aircraft Vibration and Flutter Robert H. Scanlan “Associate Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Ronwselaer Polytechnic Institute Robert Rosenbaum Chief, Dynamics and Loads, Airframe and Equipment Engineering Branch, Civil Aeronautics Administration. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY New YorkCopyright, 1961, ty The Macmillan Company ‘01, RIOHNS RESERVED—NO PART OF THIS BOOK WAY BR REPRODECHD 1 DY A REVIEWER WHO WoSHRS TO QUOTE BRIEF FassAgus IX CONNECTION Printed in the United Staten of Amorione Preface ‘Pars nook is not intended as an eshaustive treatise. Instead, its purpose ig introductory, aimed at serving two types of readers—fimt, the practicing Bhaincer in the field who is not thoroughly farailiae with modern techniques Of uiteraft dynamics, and second, those senior or graduate’ engincering Students who clect to stuly tho subject of aircraft vibrations and related uestions. wSTie text is essentially self-contained, having in its first six chapters adc: material which server asa foundation for later chapters. More advanced material, for which foundation is not eompleidly laid im the hla. tent, is reserved for the Appendix, ‘The emphasis throughout the test is on “classical” quostions, eg, the mechanies of near structural vibration. and the various caer of wring jutter the air foxes for which ean be deseribed by potential Uscory in incomprossiblo alt. However, eomprossible flow results are included in tha Appendix. "The authors, with some regrets, have not heavily emphasized certain topo fo whieh deided emplasis hs bom given in Ue Meru; hi his teen largely the result of the nature of their own partielar experieure tuther than ah lndention to sight sch material, In this earegory fall the gprtgs of mode testing, tet ntrumonatin and unin onipreae fow thoory. « Furtherinore, certain topics, which lie well within the provinee of the dlynamies analyst man aiveraft plant, have been ‘intentionally omitted; tlong, these lines there may be mentioned. stractaral and aerodynamic aspeets of transient loadings, and the use of Laplace translor theory and ‘numerical integration techiique in handling such problems, Tt js the view Gf the authors that the book should prepare the beginner inthe Geld to read the eatensive literature in these topies and to develop his own initiative im (acing them, ‘The intended approach lias beon an engineering ono; mathematical auctions ar peter sought nor avoided. ‘he intent of Ow thors how hen, a8 a. minimura goal, to present a résumé of vepresentative engineer pracfice in the American aesoelastie Fld ee ‘The authors are partivularly indebted to Professor Fie Reixener of MIT; Ben Smile of Wrght-Pationson Air Force Base, Air Material Com and; M. J, Tumer of the Booing Aireraft Company; , B. Garrick of the NACA; and ATL. Flax of the Cornell Aeronsutical Ztoratories, for esteomoly helpful citicisms and suggestions on the manuserpt, In addi tion, thanks are due Mrs. Jean Halt for considerable help ‘typing and Jeproducing the manuscript and io W. B. Brower for work on the drawings, ‘Tho final responsibility forthe state of the manuseript, however, rests solely vith the authors.Prvfoce IL mm. v. Contents ‘Purpose and Seape of Book Basie Mathematical Techniques LO Yntroduetion Elemontary Difterwntial Equations Partial Diffeential Equations Deteriinants ‘Matrices —Blementary Considerations ‘Matrices and Liness Equations Solution of Simultancous Linear Equations ‘a. Mothod base! on elirsination b. Matzis method ©. Crout’s metiod a Relaxation method ©. Iterative approximation method ‘The Complex Variable Solution of Higher Degrer Bquutions ‘a. Homer's method for approximating real roots 1, Kewton’s method for real roots . Newton's niethod for eomples 200te 4. Matis iteration fe. Graffe's root-aquaring method ‘The Lagrangean Equations of Motion and Vibration Theory 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Some Properties of Dynamical Systems 22 The Lagrangesn Equations of Moto 23 Small Vibrations of a Conservative System about Equilibrium 24 Normal Coordinates ‘The Linear Single-Deprec-of-Freedom System 3.0. Introduction 3.1 The Mechanical Model 32 The Free System 33 The Forced System 34 Other Mechanical Systems 33 Complex Foreing Function 3.6 Furthor Consideration of Linear Damping 37 The General Linear Equation with Arbitrary Forcing Function 38 Electical Analogies ‘The Two-Degree-of- Freedom System 40 Introduction 4.1 The Mechanical System and Its Bleotrieal Analogs 42. Free Motion of the System 43 Foreed Motion of the System SREEEE 4 1 1 1 1 16 2888 8 See:i ¥. vi CONTENTS, Self-Reetted Systems 5.0. Introduction 511 Basio Characteristics of SelfExvitod Osellltions 5.2 Examples of Self-Exrited Oreilations ‘a. Engines and governors 1b, Mechanical and hydrulie devices ©, Bletronie and acoustic deviows 4 Shaft phenomena, ¢, Mechanical siipstick or variable damping phenomena 4, Aerodynamic phenomena, 58. Stability Criteria 4. Quadratic equation . Cubie equation . Quastie equation, 10, Polynomials with complex oveffcients Basie Bean Structural Relationships 60. Introduction 6.1 The Defletion Equation in Bending 82 The Dettection Equation in ‘Torsion 63. Simin Buergy Considerations ‘s. Bending bs. Torsion ¢. The theaveis of Castigliano {1 On defections and infhtence cosfieients GA Influeneo Coaficonts for Pructieal Wings a. Bonding b, Tossion 6.5 Composite Infence Coefvients 665 Lavy's Method of Determining Influence Coetieients Uneonpled Beam Vébration 0 Introduction TA. Latetal Vibration of a Uniform Beam ‘a. Cantilever beam is, Freo-fe beans , Boam with bath ends hinged 72. Tonion of Uuilorm Beain Approsimate Prequeney Caleulstions Yayleigh Beergy Method! ‘3. Bending fe bs. Torsional frequ Proof of Rayleigh Minimum Frequency Principle Royleigh-Ritz Method ‘Solas Method 'S Holzer Method ES Myles Metkod 730 Matrix Methods Employing Tnfiuence Coeficiente ‘Cantilever bending and torsion 1D. Symmetric bending of a symmetric fee-fee beam 6, Antisymasetvia hending of a aymmettie ftee-fre eam 10t 107 107 109 110 ML 12 U3 4 116 18 118 4g 2121 16L 163 168 168 178 15‘CONTENTS A, Fremfzee heading frequencies of an unsymmetsic beara 11 Osthogonality Conditions 12 Proof of Convergence to Funchmental Movie by Iteration Method 33 Higher Modes und Froquoncing 14 Rotary Effeota in Transverse Bonding Vilyation 15 Summary of Approximate Methods of Determining Uneouplod Barn Frouencies VIIT, Tux-Dimensional Blatter Theory 80. Introduction 81 Equations of Motion ‘a. Kinotig ener bs. Potential encray 6, Stractnrul damping-—disipation funotion $2 Aerodynamic Forces $3. Flatter Stability Determinant Si Nonlinear Charsctersties z 7 IX, Three-Dimensional Flutter Theory 90 Introduction Gi Three-Deyree Pozee-Dinuensional Platter 92 Additional Degrees of Freedom. 93 Aspect Ratio Eifocts 84 Compiesibiity Eifects 95 Tab Flutter 96 Empiried Methods of Flutter Prevention—Dynamie Balance X, Empennage Vibration and Plutier Analysis 27 100. Introduction 207 10. Fuselage Vertical Bending—Stabilizer Bending —Blevator Fhuttor 227 102 Fuselage Torsion —Puselage Side Bending Rudder 230 103 Fuselage Torsion—Puselage Sido Bonding—Fin and Stabilizer Bending Rudder 232 XT. Normal (Couplid) Modes of Vibration 230 410 Introduction 230 ILE Normal Mods of eee Wing in Air—Superpenition of Uneoupted Modes 240 11.2. Influenve Coofficiont Method 2a 113 Orthogonality Condition —Neemal Moses 26, 1A Higher Modes and Frequencies 27 XID. Plutier Analyses Using Normal (Coupled) Modes 258, 120. Tatroduction 258. 12.1 Influence Coeficient Method 254 522 Superposition of Normal (Coupled) Modes 255, 128 Use of Quasi-Normal Coosdirates 261 124 Use of Normal Modes of Hint re Airplane 263, XIIL, Sofution of the Flutter Stability Determinant 265, 130 Introduction 265, 28.1 Thondoreen's Method 208, 182 Amold's Gmiplieal Method 207x ‘CONTENTS: 18.3 Methods Suitable for Computing Machines 184A Tabular Method 185 Routh-Huewits Disesiminant Method XIV. Wing Torsional Divengence, Aileron Reversal and Effectiveness Tatreduetion Wing Divergence—Steip Theory Allerton Reverss!—Strip Theory Wind Tunnel Data in Divergence and Reversal Calculations Wing Divergence—Finite Arpeet Ratio Aileron Roversal—Finito Aspoct Ratio ‘Alecoa Eectivenese—Finite Aspect Ratio a. Wing divergonee by, Alleron reversal and effectiveness 147 Compressility Effects 145 Empisieal Methods for Prevention of Reversal and Divergence XV. Instrumentation and Testing 150. Introsnetion 15. Ground Vibration Test Procedure 352. Vibration Equipment ‘a. Vibrators D. Pickups for amplitude measurement fe. Recording equipment 153 Amplifiers and Bridge Cireuits 154 Experiaental Determination of Content Susface Parameters 336 ‘Static unbalance 336 Moment of inertia 336 155. Plight Mutter Testing 338 156 Correlation of Theory and Test at Suberitieal Speeds 330, 157 Comparison of Flight Flutter Methods 318 15S Flutter Modal Testh Bas XVI. Vibration and Flutter of Swept Wings aT 160 Introduction MT 16.1 Coupled Modes of Vibration of a Swept Wing BIS. 162 Flutter of « Sweptback Wing 300. Bibliography 357 Appendiz 379 A. General Equation Governing Subsonio and Supersonic Blows 379 AZ Subsonie Incompressible Theory uf the Forees om an Oscillating Airfoil in Two Dimensions 382 AB Other Unsteady Air Force Considerations (Incomprosible Flow) 400 ‘A Oscillating Air Forces in Subsonic Compressible ow 405, A'S. Oscillating Air Porees in Supersonic Flow 407 ‘AG Tables of Subsonic Iacompressible Aerodynamic Cooffiiente 412