Comparison of low, medium and high fidelity numerical methods for unsteady aerodynamics and nonlinear aeroelasticity

Abstract

The unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic behavior of a 2D wing section with and without flap is analyzed with Theodorsen theory and Unsteady Vortex Lattice Method (low fidelity), Euler (medium fidelity) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (high fidelity) methods. The aeroelastic studies are carried out for linear cases and non-linear structural configurations presenting cubic stiffness and freeplay. The critical flutter speeds as well as the limit cycle oscillations present in the non-linear cases are compared. The methods show good agreement for the cases studied.