LPV control design for active flutter suppression in flexible aircraft

Abstract

This research plan intends to develop and validate solutions for active flutter suppression problem using linear parameter-varying (LPV) controllers in flexible aircraft. Flutter is an unstable oscillation that can result in catastrophic mechanical failure of an aircraft. As aircraft design moves toward foundational technologies to keep the structure as light as possible to improve fuel efficiency and aircraft agility, the flexible aircraft have been received great attention in recent years. It is the goal of the flexible aircraft concept to exploit diminished stiffness to enhance maneuverability and fuel efficiency. However, as consequence, the flexible concept can increase such unstable phenomena called flutter. Active flutter suppression can be an interesting alternative to solve this problem. The developing of methods to suppress flutter using active control systems has been demonstrated satisfactory results to overcome these adverse aeroservoelastic effects. In this sense, this research project focuses on improvement of results so far obtained using LPV controllers. This improvement consists in providing new Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) conditions in order to obtain self-scheduled controllers that ensure robust stability and performance for the closed-loop system. The research will consist of computer simulations under various conditions, e.g., speed and dynamic pressure of the flexible aircraft. (AU)