Active flutter suppression of a multiple-actuated-wing wind tunnel model

• Published in: Chinese journal of aeronautics 2014-12, Vol.27 (6), p.1451-1460
• Main Authors: Qian, Wenmin, Huang, Rui, Hu, Haiyan, Yonghui, Zhao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aeroservoelasticity; Control systems; Control theory; Digital; Feedback; Flutter; Instability; Linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller; LQG控制器; Multiple-actuated-wing (MAW); Stability; Time-delay feedback; Vibration; Wind tunnel test; 反馈控制器; 数字控制系统; 时间延迟; 非定常气动力; 颤振主动抑制; 颤振稳定性; 风洞模型
• ISSN: 1000-9361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cja.2014.10.011

In this study, a multi-input/multi-output（MIMO） time-delay feedback controller is designed to actively suppress the flutter instability of a multiple-actuated-wing（MAW） wind tunnel model in the low subsonic flow regime. The unsteady aerodynamic forces of the MAW model are computed based on the doublet-lattice method（DLM）. As the first attempt, the conventional linear quadratic-Gaussian（LQG） controller is designed to actively suppress the flutter of the MAW model. However, because of the time delay in the control loop, the wind tunnel tests illustrate that the LQG-controlled MAW model has no guaranteed stability margins. To compensate the time delay, hence, a time-delay filter, approximated via the first-order Pade approximation, is added to the LQG controller. Based on the time-delay feedback controller, a new digital control system is constructed by using a fixed-point and embedded digital signal processor（DSP） of high performance. Then, a number of wind tunnel tests are implemented based on the digital control system.The experimental results show that the present time-delay feedback controller can expand the flutter boundary of the MAW model and suppress the flutter instability of the open-loop aeroelastic system effectively.