83. Simulation of Airplane Mass Properties in the Design and Construction of Wind Tunnel Flutter Models

Paper

Abstract

During the past few years there has been a considerable increase of interest in methods of design, construction and testing of scaled elastic flutter models. Since the correct simulation of airplane weight distribution is a major requirement in model design, which is often difficult to meet in practice, it is thought that an account of Boeing experience in working out practical solutions of this problem may be of general interest to aircraft weight engineers. Before entering into a discussion of the problem of weight control in the design of scaled flutter models, a brief account will be presented of some of the basic physical principles of the flutter phenomenon.