AAE556

Lectures 34,35
The p-k method, a modern
alternative to V-g

Purdue Aeroelasticity 1
 Genealogy of the V-g or k
method
Equations of motion for harmonic response (next
slide)
Forcing frequency and airspeed are known parameters
Reduced frequency k is determined from w and V
Equations are correct at all values of w and V.
Take away the harmonic applied forcing function
Equations are only true at the flutter point
We have an eigenvalue problem
Frequency and airspeed are unknowns, but we still need k to
define the numbers to compute the elements of the
eigenvalue problem
We invented V-g artificial damping to create an iterative
approach to finding the flutter point
Purdue Aeroelasticity 2
 Equation #2, moment equilibrium

h w 2
h
w x w r w r
2 2 2 2 2
M M h 0
b b
1 1
2
1 1
M M a L M h a Lh M h a Lh
2 2 2 2
Divide by w2
h 2 w2 2 1 h
x r 2 r M M h 0
b w b

Include structural damping

h 2 w2 1 h
x r 2 1 ig r M M h 0
2

b w b
3
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 The eigenvalue problem
wh2
2 2
0 h 1 x h
w x r 2
b b
0 2
r

1 h
1 h
L L a Lh b 0
2


0
M h M

w2
h 2 0 1 h
w 1 x 1 Lh
2
L a Lh b
2 b h

1 x r 2
0
2
M h M
r

4
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 Return to the EOMs before we
assumed harmonic motion
Here is what we would like to have

M ij j Kij j Aij1 j Aij 2 j Aij3 j 0

The first step in solving the general stability problem

j j
e pt
p jw
p 2 M ij j Kij j Aij j
1

p Aij j p 2 Aij j 0
2 3

Purdue Aeroelasticity 25-5

 The p-k method casts the flutter
problem in the following form

1
p M ij p Bij K ij V 2 Aij 0
2

p jw h

t e pt
b e pt

but first, some preliminaries

Purdue Aeroelasticity 6
 Setting up an alternative solution
scheme

h x Kh h P

b b m b mb

x h I K Ma
2
2 2
b b mb mb mb

Kh P
1 x h 0 h
m mb
x I b b
2
0 K M a

mb 2
mb mb 2
Purdue Aeroelasticity
7
 The expanded equations

K P
1 x h h 0 h
m mb
x I b b
K M a
mb 2 0
2
mb mb 2
K
1 x h h 0 h
m
I b b
x K
mb 2 0
mb 2
1
h
L 2
L a h
L
b w
4 2
h b
2
mb 2 1 1 1 1 1
a Lh M L a Lh a
2 2 2 2 2

Purdue Aeroelasticity
8
 Break into real and imaginary
parts
1
L h 2
L a h
L
b w
3 2

mb 1 1 1 1 1
2

a Lh M L a Lh a
2 2 2 2 2
1
L h 2
L a h
L
b w
3 2

Real 2
mb
a L
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
1
Lh
2
L a Lh
b w
3 2

jImag 2
mb 1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
Purdue Aeroelasticity
9
 Recognize the mass ratio

1
Lh
2
L a Lh
w 2

Real 2
1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
1
Lh
2
L a Lh
w
2

jImag 2
1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2

Purdue Aeroelasticity
10
 Multiply and divide real part by dynamic
pressure
Multiply imaginary part by p/jw

1
Lh
2
L a Lh
1 2k
2

V 2 2
Real 2
2 b 1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
1
Lh L 2 a Lh
w p
2

j Imag 2
jw
a L
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2

Purdue Aeroelasticity 11
 Multiply and divide imaginary
part by Vb/Vb

1
Lh
2
L a Lh
1 2k
2

V 2 2
Real 2
2 b
1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 M L a Lh a
h

2 2 2
1
h
L 2
L a h
L
V k
p Imag 2
b
a L
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
 Define Aij and Bij matrices

1
Lh
2
L a Lh
V k
2 2

Aij 2 Real 2
b 1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
1
h
L 2
L a h
L
V k
Bij Imag 2
b 1 1 a L M L 1 1 a L 1 a

2 2 h h
2 2 2
 Place aero parts into EOMs
Note the minus signs
h 0
p M ij p Bij K ij Aij b
2

0

1
Lh L 2 a Lh
V k
2 2

Aij Real 2
b
1 1 a L 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
1
Lh 2
L a h
L
V k
Bij Imag 2
b
a L
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 h M L a Lh a
2 2 2
 What are the features of the new
EOMs?
h 0
p M ij p Bij K ij Aij b
2

0

We still need k defined before we can

evaluate the matrices
Airspeed, V, appears.
The EOM is no longer complex
We can calculate the eigenvalue, p, to
determine stability
 The p-k problem solution
h 0
p M ij p Bij K ij Aij b
2

0
h 0
p M ij p Bij Kij b
2

0

Choose k=wb/V arbitrarily

Choose altitude (, and airspeed (V)
Mach number is now known (when appropriate)
Compute AICs from Theodorsen formulas or others
Compute aero matrices-Bij and Aij matrices are real
Convert p-k equation to first-order state vector form
 A state vector contains
displacement and velocity states

displacement vector x j

velocity vector v j x j

x j

State vector = {z j }=
v j
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 Relationship between state
vector elements
{x j }= {v j } An equation of motion with
damping becomes

M ij {v j }- Bij {v j }+ K ij {x j }= {0}

- 1 - 1
{v j }= - M ij K ij {x j }+ M ij
Bij {v j }


x j

{v j }= -
- 1 - 1

M ij K ij M ij Bij
v j

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 Use an identify relationship
for the other equations
x j
0 0 1 0 x j


{z j }= v = = [0][I ]{
zi }
0 0 0 1 v
j j

19
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 State vector eigenvalue
equation
x j
[0] [I ] x j
= Qij {z j }
{z j }= v = - M - 1K M - 1B v
j
j

Assume a solution z(t) ze st

Result {z j }= p {z j }= Qij {z j }

Solve for eigenvalues (p) of the [Q] matrix (the plant)
Plot results as a function of airspeed

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 1st order problem

Mass matrix is
diagonal if we
use modal 0
I
approach so Qij 1 1
too is structural
M K M B
stiffness matrix
Compute p roots
Kij Kij Aij
Roots are
either real
(positive or
negative)
Complex
{z j }= p {z j }= Qij {z j }
conjugate
pairs
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 Eigenvalue roots
p preal jpimaginary
p w g j
wg is the estimated system damping
There are m computed values of w at the
airspeed V
You chose a value of k=wb/V, was it correct?
line up the frequencies to make sure k, w and V
are consistent
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 Procedure

Input k and V
Compute pi wi g i j
eigenvalues
No, change k
wi b
ki kinput ? ki
V
yes preal wig i Repeat
process for
pimaginary wi each w
Purdue Aeroelasticity
 P-k advantages
Liningup frequencies eliminates need
for matching flutter speed to Mach
number and altitude
p-k approach generates an
approximation to the actual system
aerodynamic damping near flutter
p-k approach finds flutter speeds of
configurations with rigid body modes

Purdue Aeroelasticity