Flutter stability analysis of a wedge shaped airfoil with nonzero thickness in non-viscous airflow

Abstract

Using a wedge shaped camber and a classical Goland beam model, we investigate the effect of camber thickness on flutter speed in an inviscid airflow setting. We explicitly derive the Possio equation corresponding to the aerodynamic potential flow which relates the pressure jump to the downwash (normal velocity of the wing). The solution to this boundary value problem is obtained in the M=0 and M=1 cases, and is used to compute the lift and moment forces and solve for the structural dynamics.  We find that in the M=0 case which signifies incompressible flow, the flutter speed increases with camber thickness. On the other hand, the sonic M=1 case demonstrates the opposite pattern with a flutter speed that decreases with camber thickness.