Nonlinear Flutter Studies on Control Surface Freeplay

The frequent occurrence of control surface vibration has become one of the key problems affecting aircraft safety. The source of the freeplay of the control surface is studied, and a measurement device is developed. A nonlinear flutter analysis method under trimmed flight condition is proposed based on the discrete state-space method. Consequently, the effects of center-type freeplay and the freeplay with preload on flutter characteristics are analyzed, and the effects of preload on nonlinear flutter are verified by wind tunnel tests of a single wing model.