The highly flexible HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) aircraft analysis methodology is of interest because early studies indicated that HALE aircraft might have different vibration and aeroelastic characteristics from those of conventional aircraft. Recently the computer code Nonlinear Aeroelastic Trim And Stability of HALE Aircraft (NATASHA) was developed and used to the flight dynamics and aeroelastic analysis of flying wing HALE aircraft. Further analysis improvements were required to extend its capability to the ground vibration test (GVT) environment and to both GVT and aeroelastic behavior of HALE aircraft with other configurations. First, the geometrically exact fully intrinsic beam theory was extended to treat other aircraft configurations modeled as an assembly of beam elements. It includes auxiliary elevator input in the horizontal tail and fuselage aerodynamics. Second, the methodology was extended to treat the GVT environment to provide modal characteristics for model validation. A newly developed bungee formulation is coupled to the intrinsic beam formulation for the GVT modeling. After the coupling procedures, the whole formulation cannot be fully intrinsic because the geometric constraint by bungee cords makes the system statically indeterminant. Third, because many HALE aircraft are propeller driven, the methodology was extended to include an engine/nacelle/propeller system using a two-degree-of-freedom model. This step was undertaken to predict a dynamic instability called ``whirl flutter," which can be exhibited in such HALE aircrafts. For simplicity, two fundamental assumptions are made: constant approximation on the propeller aerodynamics and the use of equivalent three-bladed counterpart for two-bladed propeller system to obviate the need for Floquet theory. The validity of these assumptions is verified by investigating the periodic effect of side forces and hub moments and the periodic inertia effect. Finally, parametric studies show how the current methodology can be utilized as a unified preliminary analysis tool for the vibration and aeroelastic analysis of highly flexible HALE aircraft.

Submitted by Adelmo Fernandes de Oliveira Junior null (ligley@gmail.com) on 2017-01-27T18:02:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Adelmo - 26-01-2017.pdf: 2029608 bytes, checksum: 09e6922ea4afa079b64bac18ef6882ba (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-01-31T16:02:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveirajunior_af_me_guara.pdf: 2029608 bytes, checksum: 09e6922ea4afa079b64bac18ef6882ba (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-31T16:02:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveirajunior_af_me_guara.pdf: 2029608 bytes, checksum: 09e6922ea4afa079b64bac18ef6882ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-02 / A análise modal experimental é uma das técnicas mais importantes na caracterização dinâmica de estruturas. No setor aeroespacial a analise modal experimental é conhecida como Ground Vibration Test (GVT). Na Força Aérea Brasileira, o órgão responsável para executar o GVT é o Laboratório de Ensaios de Vibração (LEVI) da Divisão de Integração e Ensaio (AIE) do Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE). Esta pesquisa foi realizada neste laboratório que possui as facilidades para a execução de GVT. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi aprimorar a metodologia de ensaio de análise modal aplicada a um modelo de aeronave em alumínio do tipo GARTEUR SM-AG-19. O estudo desenvolvido possibilita que em ensaios futuros os resultados sejam replicados, no intuito de avaliar a integridade do sistema de medição, levando em consideração aspectos da influência do torque na junta aparafusada entre a asa e a fuselagem. Para validar a metodologia os resultados obtidos neste estudo foram comparados com os resultados de dois estudos desenvolvidos no Brasil. A contribuição principal desta pesquisa é relacionada ao estudo do efeito da variação do torque na junta aparafusada entre a asa e a fuselagem sobre os parâmetros modais da estrutura. / The experimental modal analysis is one of the most important techniques in the dynamic characterization of structures. In the aerospace industry, the experimental modal analysis is known as Ground Vibration Test (GVT). In the Brazilian Air Force, the institution responsible for executing the GVT is the Laboratory of Vibration Testing (LEVI) of the Integration and Testing Division (AIE) of the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE). This research was carried out on this laboratory that has the facilities to perform the GVT. The main objective of this study was to improve the modal analysis test methodology applied to an aluminium aircraft model named GARTEUR SM-AG-19. This study allows the results to be replicated in future tests in order to evaluate the integrity of the measurement system, taking into account aspects of the influence of the torque on the bolted joint between wing and fuselage. In order to validate the methodology the results obtained in this study were compared to the results of two studies developed in Brazil. The main contribution of this research is the study of the torque variation effect on the bolted joint between wing and fuselage on the modal parameters of the structure.