A Method for Efficient Flutter Analysis of Systems with Uncertain Modeling Parameters

Abstract: A method for efficient analysis of variations in utter speed predictions caused by parameter variations in the mass, stiffness and aerodynamic models of a wing structure is presented. The analysis method considers a linear uncertainty formulation and performs a perturbation analysis based on computation of eigenvalue differentials of a nominal system matrix. The method is applied in a test case study in which utter speed variations caused by variations in mass and aerodynamic properties of a delta wing model is analyzed. The report is concluded with a discussion of the validity of the results and of how the applicability of the method is affected by the assumptions on which it builds.