Perturbed panel flutter - A simple model

The effects of small periodic disturbances on the response of a two-degree-of-freedom, nonconservative mechanical system are analyzed. The system is a simple model for panel flutter. The disturbance simulates the pressure fluctuations of a turbulent boundary layer on the panel. Asymptotic expansions of the solutions are obtained for small-amplitude disturbances. The qualitative features of the response depend on the prescribed variation of the disturbance frequency with the magnitude of the nonconservative applied force. The disturbance can induce a smooth transition to the fluttering states of the rods, or it may induce jump transitions. The results suggest a possible technique for delaying panel flutter by applying periodic forcing functions with appropriate frequencies.