Generalized Subharmonic Response of a Missile with Slight Configurational Asymmetries

Abstract : The quasilinear analysis of the angular motion of slightly asymmetric missiles with a cubic static moment shows the existence of nonharmonic steady- state solutions. These solutions are described by sums of three constant amplitude rotating angles. One angle rotates at the spin rate and the other two rotate in opposite directions at approximately one-third the spin rate. This generalized subharmonic motion can be very much larger than the usual harmonic trim motion and can occur for spin rates greater than eight times the resonant spin rate. The predictions of the quasilinear theory are compared with the results of exact numerical integration of the equations of motion with much better than 5% agreement in all cases.