Three-Dimensional Flutter Numerical Simulation of Wings in Heavy Gas and Transonic Flutter Similarity Law Correction Method

Abstract

Wind tunnel testing is a crucial method for studying aircraft flutter. Using heavy gas as the wind tunnel medium can mitigate the escalating issue of test models being overweight as advanced aircraft develop. This paper employs an analytical method for numerical calculations of three-dimensional (3D) wing flutter based on fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Flutter calculations for the Goland wing are conducted, and the results in the air medium are consistent with the literature. In contrast, significant differences in flutter behavior are observed in the heavy gas R134a medium. Compared to air, when the model reaches a critical state in R134a, the incoming flow velocity is lower, the incoming flow density is approximately 3 to 5 times air, and the incoming flow dynamic pressure is about 1.1 to 1.2 times that of air. The correction of heavy gas flutter data is crucial for wind tunnel testing. This paper proposes a correction method based on the unsteady transonic flow similarity law proposed by Bendiksen under quasi-steady conditions. Attempts are made to revise relevant published wind tunnel tests and heavy gas flutter calculation results. The transonic flutter similarity law effectively explains the flutter similarity of rigid models in both heavy gas and air media. Still, it fails in cases with highly reduced frequencies and low mass ratios, such as those encountered with flexible wings.

Keywords

• flutter
• heavy gas
• fluid–structure interaction
• Goland wing
• transonic flutter similarity law