Unified Aeroelastic and Flight Dynamics Formulation Based on State-Space Unsteady Aerodynamics

This paper presents a unified aeroelastic and flight dynamics formulation in state-space format based on the continuous-time unsteady vortex lattice method. An adaptive modeling framework for extended aerodynamic boundary conditions is proposed, accounting for rigid-body and structural motions and control surface deflections. This facilitates the formation of fully coupled multiphysics interactions within the unified framework. The formulation provides a tractable foundation for controller design. Stability analysis of a flying-wing configuration demonstrates the model’s validity and reveals significant coupling effects between aeroelasticity and flight dynamics on aircraft stability. Parametric analysis and active flutter suppression controller design were performed to explore and expand the flutter boundary.