University Foundation Los Libertadores

Faculty of Engineeríng
Aeronautical Engineenríng
Aeroelasticity
MsC Ing. Ricardo Cubillos

1. A wing is idealized as a uniform slender member of semi-span s, mass per

length μ and flexural rigidity EI, built in at one end. Find an expression for the
natural frequency of the fundamental bending mode using each of the
following assumed bending deformation shapes:
𝜋𝑦
a) 𝑧(𝑦, 𝑡)= 1 − 𝐶𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑠 ) 𝑞(𝑡)
𝑦 2 𝑦
b) 𝑧(𝑦, 𝑡)= ( 𝑠 ) (3 − ( 𝑠 ))𝑞(𝑡)
2. A wing is idealized as a uniform slender member of semi-span s, moment of
inertia in twist per length χ and torsional rigidity GJ, built in at one end. Find
an expression for the natural frequency of the fundamental torsional mode
using each of the following assumed torsional deformation shapes:
𝜋𝑦
a) 𝜃(𝑦, 𝑡)= 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ( 2𝑠 ) 𝑞(𝑡)
𝑦 𝑦 2
b) θ(y, t) = ( 𝑠 ) (3 − ( 𝑠 ) )q(t)
3. For a uniform slender member of length s, moment of inertia in twist per length
χ and torsional rigidity GJ, built in at one end, find an expression for the natural
frequency of the fundamental torsional mode using a deformation with two
assumed shapes, namely :
𝑦 𝑦 2
𝜃(𝑦, 𝑡) = ( 𝑠 ) 𝑞1 (𝑡) + ( 𝑠 ) 𝑞1 (𝑡) .
Repeat the analysis using matrix algebra. Note that the eigenvalue calculation
could be performed using the ‘eig’ MATLAB function once the symbols had
been ignored.

4. For a nonuniform tapering member, built in at one end, with mass per length
and flexural stiffness distributions
𝑦 𝑦
𝜇(𝑦) = 𝜇0 (1 − ( )) ; 𝐸𝐼(𝑦) = 𝐸𝐼0 (1 − ( ))
𝑠 𝑠
use a quadratic assumed shape to estimate the fundamental natural
frequency in bending.

“Airplanes were invented by natural selection. Now you can say that intelligent design
designs our airplanes of today, but there was no intelligent design really designing those
early airplanes. There were probably at least 30,000 different things tried, and when they
crash and kill the pilot, don't try that again.”
Burt Rutan