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Large-Amplitude Finite Element Flutter Analysis Of Composite Panels In Hypersonic Flow, Carl E. Gray Jr.

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A finite-element approach is presented for determining the nonlinear flutter characteristics of two-dimensional isotropic and three-dimensional composite laminated thin panels using the third-order-piston, transverse loading, aerodynamic theory. The unsteady, hypersonic, aerodynamic theory and the von Karman large deflection plate theory are used to formulate the aeroelastic problem. Nonlinear flutter analyses are performed to assess the influence of the higher-order aerodynamic theory on the structure's limit-cycle amplitude and the dynamic pressure of the flow velocity. A solution procedure is presented to solve the nonlinear panel flutter and large-amplitude free vibration finite element equations. This procedure is a linearized updated mode with …