Applications of Bifurcation Methods to F-181HARV Open-loop Dynamics in Landing Configuration

[摘要] Over the past two decades, bifurcation andcontinuation methods have emerged as efficient tools for prediction,and control of flight instabilities. Bifurcation phenomena have beenassociated with nonlinear behaviour of aircraft in actual flight tests,and the critical control combinations, which signify onset ofinstabilities, have been identified for almost all generations of modernfighter aircraft. A standard bifurcation analysis procedure has beenused in the past. In this paper, the bifurcation theory, relevant topreliminary bifurcation analysis of nonlinear aircraft dynamics, hasbeen introduced, and a stepswise methodology used in a standardbifurcation analysis procedure has been illustrated with an applicationto open-loop dynamics of an F- 18/HARV model in landing configuration.Further, an example manoeuvre is constructed, and numerical timesimulations of an F-18/HARV model in this manoeuvre is carried out tovalidate the predictions from the bifurcation analysis. Numerical timesimulation results confirm the onset of nonlinear behaviour at criticalcontrol combinations identified in bifurcation analysis of the aircraftmodel. Thus, bifurcation methods, in conjunction with selectivenumerical simulations, can be extremely useful in the design,development, evaluation, and flight training phases of a fighteraircraft development programme.

[学科分类] 社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

[关键词] Bifurcation methods;standard bifurcation analysis;open-loop dynamics;flight control;flight instabilities;nonlinear aircraft dynamics;nonlinear dynamics;flight mechanics;fighter aircraft;aircrafi instabilities prediction;wing rock motion