Effects of flow yaw angle on thermal flutter characteristics of composite panels with different shapes

The effects of flow yaw angle on thermal flutter characteristics of composite panels with different shapes were investigated here. The first-order shear deformation theory, von Karman large deflection plate theory, and the quasi-steady first-order piston theory considering flow yaw angle were adopted to build the finite element model of thermal flutter of composite panels. The principle of virtual work was applied to develop the equations of motion of a panel flutter system. Three composite panels with different shapes and the same area were taken as study objects, their critical flutter dynamic pressure laws with varying of flow yaw angle and temperature were analyzed. The results showed that their critical flutter dynamic pressure decreases linearly with increase in temperature; the triangular shape panel is more stable aeroelastically than the trapezoid panel while the trapezoid panel is more stable than the rectangular panel; the flutter characteristics of the three panels vary complicatedly as flow yaw angle increases; no matter how flow yaw angle changes, the triangular composite panel is the most stable while the rectangular one is the most unstable.