NX Nastran

Aeroelastic Analysis
User’s Guide
Proprietary & Restricted Rights Notice

© 2007 UGS Corp. All Rights Reserved. This software and related documentation are proprietary
to UGS Corp.
NASTRAN is a registered trademark of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NX
Nastran is an enhanced proprietary version developed and maintained by UGS Corp.
MSC is a registered trademark of MSC.Software Corporation. MSC.Nastran and MSC.Patran
are trademarks of MSC.Software Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

2 NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide

Contents

Fundamentals of Aeroelastic Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Introduction to Aeroelastic Analysis and Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Aerodynamic Data Input and Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Aerodynamic Theories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Interconnection of the Structure with Aerodynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Static Aeroelasticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
Flutter Solution Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-45
Dynamic Aeroelastic Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-55
Aeroelastic Design Sensitivities and Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-67

Aeroelastic Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Aerodynamic Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Static Aeroelastic Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Flutter Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Dynamic Aeroelastic Response Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26

Input Files for Aeroelastic Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Executive Control Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Case Control Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Bulk Data Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Restarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6

Output Features and Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Static Aeroelasticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Flutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Dynamic Aeroelasticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Design Sensitivity And Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Aeroelastic Solution Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Solution Sequence Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Solution Sequence Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Aeroelastic Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Selected Aeroelastic Data Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22

Static Aeroelastic Analysis Sample Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
FSW Airplane in Level Flight (Example HA144A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Jet Transport Wing in Roll (Example HA144B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
A 15-Degree Sweptback Wing in a Wind Tunnel (Example HA144C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-39

NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide 3

Contents

FSW Airplane in Antisymmetric Maneuvers (Example HA144D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-58

FSW Airplane in Unsymmetric Quasi-Steady Maneuvers (Example HA144E) . . . . . . . . . 6-75
FSW Airplane with Bodies (Example HA144F) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-101
Unit Solutions for Loadings of the FSW Airplane (Examples HA144GA and HA144GB) . . 6-129

Flutter Analysis Sample Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Three Degree of Freedom Airfoil and Fuselage (Example HA145A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Flutter Analysis of Jet Transport Wing by Lifting Surface Theory (Example HA145B) . . . 7-16
Flutter and Divergence Analysis of Jet Transport Wing by Strip Theory (Example
HA145C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
Flutter Analysis of Jet Transport Wing/Aileron by Strip Theory (Example HA145D) . . . . . 7-40
Subsonic Flutter Analysis of the 15-Degree Sweptback Wing by the KE-Method (Example
HA145E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Low Supersonic Flutter Analysis of the 15-Degree Sweptback Wing Using Mach Box
Aerodynamics (Example HA145F) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-62
Low Supersonic Flutter Analysis of the 15-Degree Sweptback Wing Using ZONA51 Aerodynamics
(Examples HA145FA and HA145FB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-69
High Supersonic Flutter Analysis of the 15-Degree Sweptback Wing Using Piston Theory
(Example HA145G) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-83
Flutter Analysis of a Square Simply Supported Panel (Examples HA145HA and
HA145HB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Estimation of Dynamic Stability Derivatives (Example HA145I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-131
Servoelastic Stability Analysis of a Missile (Example HA110A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-144
Aeroservoelastic Stability Analysis of a Missile (Example HA145J) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-163
Aerothermoelastic Stability of a Wing (Examples HA153A and HA145KR) . . . . . . . . . . . 7-179

Aeroelastic Design Sensitivities and Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Aeroelastic Optimization of FSW Airplane (Example HA200A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Aeroelastic Optimization of FSW Airplane (Example HA200B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28

Dynamic Aeroelastic Response Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Discrete Gust Response of BAH Wing (Example HA146A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Transient Rolling of BAH Wing Due to Aileron (Example HA146B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Random Gust Response of BAH Wing (Example HA146C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Frequency Response of BAH Wing to Oscillating Aileron (Examples HA146D and
HA146DR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Subsonic Transient Response Analysis of a Sweptback Wing to an Impulsive Force Applied at the
Tip (Example HA146E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54

References and Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Bibliography of Aeroelasticity and Unsteady Aerodynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Bibliography of MSC.Nastran Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

Commonly Used Commands for Aeroelasticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Executive Control Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Case Control Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Aerodynamic Trim Variable Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2

4 NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide

 Contents

Divergence Solution Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2

Structural Damping and Transfer Function Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Aeroelastic Flutter Solution Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Aeroelastic Dynamic Load Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Output Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Bulk Data Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Bulk Data Entry Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5

NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide 5

Chapter

1 Fundamentals of Aeroelastic
Analysis

• Introduction to Aeroelastic Analysis and Design

• Aerodynamic Data Input and Generation

• Aerodynamic Theories

• Interconnection of the Structure with Aerodynamics

• Static Aeroelasticity

• Flutter Solution Techniques

• Dynamic Aeroelastic Analysis

• Aeroelastic Design Sensitivities and Optimization

NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide 1-1

Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Aeroelastic Analysis

1.1 Introduction to Aeroelastic Analysis and Design

The NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide describes the theoretical aspects and the
numerical techniques used to perform aeroelastic analyses with the software.
You can use any of the existing NX Nastran structural finite elements (except axisymmetric
elements) to build the structural model. NX Nastran generates the structural stiffness, mass,
and damping matrices required by the aeroelastic analyses from your input of geometric,
structural, inertial, and damping data, for subsequent use in the various aeroelastic analyses.
The software computes matrices of aerodynamic influence coefficients from the data describing
the geometry of the aerodynamic finite elements. The choice of aerodynamic grid points for the
aerodynamic model is independent of the location of the structural grid points.
One subsonic and three supersonic lifting surface aerodynamic theories are available in NX
Nastran, as well as Strip Theory. The subsonic theory is the Doublet-Lattice method, which can
account for interference among multiple lifting surfaces and bodies. The supersonic theories
are the Mach Box method, Piston Theory, and the ZONA51 method for multiple interfering
lifting surfaces.
NX Nastran also provides an automated interpolation procedure to relate the aerodynamic to
the structural degrees of freedom. Splining techniques for both lines and surfaces are used to
generate the transformation matrix from structural grid point deflections to aerodynamic grid
point deflections where local streamwise slopes are also computed. The transpose of this matrix
transfers the aerodynamic forces and moments at aerodynamic boxes to structural grid points.
The structural load distribution on an elastic vehicle in trimmed flight is determined by solving
the equations for static equilibrium. The solution process leads to aerodynamic stability
derivatives, e.g., lift and moment curve slopes and lift and moment coefficients due to control
surface rotation, and trim variables, e.g., angle of attack and control surface setting, as well as
aerodynamic and structural loads, structural deflections, and element stresses.
The analysis at subsonic speeds utilizes the Vortex-Lattice aerodynamic theory (i.e., the steady
case of the Doublet-Lattice method); the analysis at supersonic speeds uses the ZONA51
aerodynamic theory at zero reduced frequency. Control surface reversal speeds can be obtained
by interpolation of roll control effectiveness, Clδ , versus flight dynamic pressure. Previously,
static aeroelastic divergence speeds were determined by the K- or KE-methods of flutter analysis
at very low reduced frequency or from the PK-method of flutter analysis. Now, those you can use
the Divergence option in SOLutions 144 and 200 to obtain those speeds.
The number of degrees of freedom required for accurate solutions to dynamic aeroelastic
problems is generally far less than the number of physical degrees of freedom used in the finite
element structural model. The number of independent degrees of freedom can be greatly reduced
by using the (complex) amplitudes of a series of vibration modes as generalized coordinates, e.g.,
by Galerkin’s method. NX Nastran has the capability to compute the vibration modes and
frequencies and to make the transformation to modal coordinates. The matrices of aerodynamic
influence coefficients are also transformed to generalized aerodynamic forces by use of the
vibration eigenvectors.
The dynamic aeroelastic stability problem, flutter, is solved by any of three methods. The
traditional American flutter method developed by the Air Materiel Command (AMC) in 1942 is
available in the first two methods.
• The first method, called the K-method, is a variation of the AMC method.

• The second method, called the KE-method, is more efficient from the point of view of tracking
roots, but is limited in input (no viscous damping) and output (no eigenvectors).

1-2 NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide

 Fundamentals of Aeroelastic Analysis

• The third method, called the PK-method, is similar to the British flutter method, which was
developed by the Royal Aircraft Establishment.

Historically, the capability to couple servo-systems with the structure has long been available
in the software. With the addition of aerodynamic forces, aeroservoelastic analysis of stability
augmentation or load alleviation systems is also available.
The coupling with aerodynamic loads has also been added to the existing NX Nastran structural
modal frequency response capability. Analyses of frequency response to arbitrarily specified
forcing functions can be carried out using the oscillatory aerodynamic loads from any of the
available aerodynamic theories. Frequency response to a harmonic gust field can be calculated
at subsonic speeds using the Doublet-Lattice method for wing/body interference, and by the
ZONA51 method for interfering lifting surfaces at supersonic speeds.
Because unsteady aerodynamic loads are obtained only for steady-state harmonic motion,
they are known only in the frequency- and not the time-domain. Inverse Fourier Transform
techniques provide the appropriate methods by which transient response is obtained from the
frequency response. Both forward and inverse Fourier transforms are provided so that the
time-varying forcing function or the gust profile can be transformed into the frequency domain.
Then, after convolution with the system frequency response, the inverse transform leads to the
transient response of the system to the specified forcing function or gust profile.
Stationary random response depends on the frequency response of the system to a specified
loading and the power spectral density of that loading. The loading may be either a specified
force distribution or a harmonic gust field. The statistical quantities of interest in the response
are Ā, the ratio of standard deviations (rms values) of the response to that of the input loading,
and N0, the mean frequency of zero crossings (with a positive slope) of the response. The
capability to compute these quantities was added to NX Nastran by modifying the existing
random response module to include options to generate various atmospheric turbulence power
spectra and to perform the calculation of N0.
The sensitivities of response parameters to changes in design variables are calculated by the
perturbation techniques developed for structural optimization in NX Nastran also include static
aeroelasticity and flutter. You can obtain basic aeroelastic sensitivities, including stability
derivatives, trim variables, and flutter system dampings. The synthetic response technique of
NX Nastran optimization also permits the calculation of sensitivities of user-specified functions
of those standard response quantities.
Optimization of aeroelastic characteristics can be combined with the other optimization features
in SOLution 200, and vehicles can be designed optimally for aeroelastic loads, flying qualities,
and flutter, as well as for strength, vibration frequencies, and buckling characteristics.
In addition to the usual displacement and element force printout, you can also request certain
output in graphical form. For checking the aeroelastic model, you can make of the layouts of
structural and aerodynamic elements. You can also plot vibration mode shapes in one or more of
three formats:
• grid line deflections

• grid point vector deflections

• contour lines.

You can make two-dimensional xy-type plots of flutter analysis results in the form of
velocity-damping and velocity-frequency curves. You can plot frequency response data as
functions of frequency and transient response data as functions of time. In random response

NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide 1-3

Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Aeroelastic Analysis

analyses, you can plot the power spectral densities against frequency. NX Nastran offers several
plotter options, the simplest being the printer that provides the results in a numerical format.
A large number of problems is necessary to illustrate the principal features of the aeroelastic
capability of NX Nastran. The analyses can be grouped under four headings:
• static aeroelasticity

• dynamic stability (flutter)

• dynamic response

• design sensitivity and optimization

Five static aeroelastic problems illustrate the symmetric, antisymmetric, and unsymmetric
options. Flutter analyses by the three available flutter methods have then been variously
selected to demonstrate all of the available aerodynamic theories. Examples of transient,
frequency, and random responses are chosen as applications of the dynamic response analysis.
Finally, several small examples are considered first for their design sensitivities and are then
optimized for a variety of constraints on deflections, strength, and aeroelastic characteristics.
A physical description of each problem, along with its finite element model, is given and a
discussion of the results of each analysis is presented. Limited output is also presented for
each example, including the input data echo and highlights of the calculated results. (The
formats of the Executive Control, Case Control, and Bulk Data entries are presented in Input
Files for Aeroelastic Problems (Ch. 4) and in Sections 3, 4, and 5 in the NX Nastran Quick
Reference Guide.)
The seven-character identification used in the Test Problem Library (TPL) is adopted for the
example problems. The notation used here is HAXXXYZ where HA denotes Handbook for
Aeroelastic Analysis [the title of the prior user document on aeroelasticity, see Rodden (1987)].
XXX denotes the Solution Sequence number (144, 145, 146 or 200), and Y is a letter denoting
the specific example for a given Solution Sequence. Z, if used, denotes a specific feature of the
example, e.g., R denotes a restart. To access the sample problems in the TPL, see:
• Using the Test Problem Libraries in the NX Nastran Installation and Operations Guide

Aeroelastic Modules and DMAP Sequences

Aeroelastic analysis and design solution sequences extend the range of capabilities in NX
Nastran beyond basic static and dynamic structural analysis. Modules are available to:
• Generate aerodynamic grid points

• Compute aerodynamic matrices

• Provide connection (interpolation) between the structural and aerodynamic grid points

• Solve the equations for static aeroelasticity

• Solve the equations for flutter

• Solve the equations for dynamic aeroelastic response

• Calculate aeroelastic design sensitivities

• Optimize aeroelastic and related structural characteristics

1-4 NX Nastran Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide