Transient response study on rolling effectiveness of multiple control surfaces

A study of the effectiveness of trailing- and leading-edge control surfaces has been made for a rolling wing-fuselage model. An experimental model and wind tunnel test are used to assess the theoretical results. The theoretical model includes the inherently nonlinear dry friction damping moment that is present between the spindle support and the experimental aeroelastic wing model. The roll trim equation of motion and the appropriate aeroelastic equations are solved for different combinations of leading- and trailing-edge control surface rotations using a reduced-order aerodynamic model based upon the fluid eigenmodes of three-dimensional vortex lattice aerodynamic theory. The focus is on the transient response of the system. The present paper provides new insights into the transient dynamic behavior and design of an adaptive aeroelastic wing using trailing- and leading-edge control surfaces.