Numerical Whirl–Flutter analysis of a tiltrotor semi-span wind tunnel model

Abstract

This work presents the modeling and preliminary Whirl–Flutter stability results achieved within the Advanced Testbed for TILtrotor Aeroelastics (ATTILA) CleanSky2 project. The project addresses the design, manufacturing, and testing of a semi-span wind-tunnel model of the Next Generation Civil TiltRotor. The preliminary multibody models developed in support of the wind-tunnel testbed design are described, illustrating the modeling technique of each subcomponent of the model, namely the wing, the rotor, the blades, and the yoke. The methodologies used to analyze the stability of systems subjected to periodic aerodynamic excitation when the problem is modeled using full-featured multibody solvers are presented in support of Whirl–Flutter identification during wind-tunnel testing.