A Tutorial on a Unified Approach for Computational Aeroelasticity

Aeroelasticity consists of the modeling and understanding of the interactions between the structural dynamics and unsteady aerodynamics of a configuration such as an airplane, a launch vehicle, or a bridge.  By its very nature, aeroelasticity is a multi-disciplinary field and can, therefore, include other disciplines such as controls (aeroservoelasticity) and thermal effects (aerothermoelasticity).  Over the last few years, the field of aeroelasticity has been transitioning from its classical origins involving linear, frequency-domain methods to more modern, nonlinear, computational-based methods.  The study and application of aeroelasticity involves the evaluation of critical loads and dynamics problems including, for example, gust loads and flutter.  While flutter, a dangerous condition that can result in damage or destruction of the structure, is a serious safety concern that needs to be addressed, there are also other aeroelastic concerns that address the structural health and longevity, as well as performance, of the vehicle.