Capturing nonlinear time-dependent aircraft dynamics using a wind tunnel manoeuvre rig

This paper considers a novel multi-degree-of-freedom dynamic manoeuvre rig,with the aim of assessing its potential for capturing aircraft model nonlinear time dependent dynamics in the wind tunnel. The dynamic manoeuvre rig capabilities are demonstrated via a series of experiments involving a model aircraft in a closed section low-speed wind tunnel. A series of open loop experiments show that the aircraft model exhibits nonlinear time dependent dynamics. This nonlinear behaviour manifests itself as limit cycle oscillations that increase in complexity with the number of degrees-of-freedom in which the aircraft is allowed to move. Two real-time closed loop control experiments further illustrate the manoeuvre rig potential: first, using a pitch motion configuration, an experiment is conducted to investigate the limit cycle behaviour in more detail, allowing the stability properties of the pitch oscillations to be assessed; secondly, using a 5-DOF motion configuration, the test motion envelope is extended by using a compensating feedback control law to track the aircraft’s roll motion. Together, these experiments demonstrate the manoeuvre rig potential to reveal aircraft nonlinear and unsteady phenomena.