Aeroelasticity & Structural Dynamics in a Fast Changing World
17 – 21 June 2024, The Hague, The Netherlands
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Decentralized Control of Ailerons for Gust Load Alleviation


Go-down ifasd2024 Tracking Number 109

Presentation:
Session: Gust 3
Room: Room 1.4/1.5
Session start: 13:30 Wed 19 Jun 2024

Kolja Michel   kolja.michel@dlr.de
Affifliation: DLR - German Aerospace Center

Simon Schulz   simon.schulz@dlr.de
Affifliation: DLR - German Aerospace Center

Gertjan Looye   gertjan.looye@dlr.de
Affifliation: DLR - German Aerospace Center

Guido Weber   guido.weber@liebherr.com
Affifliation: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg


Topics: - Active Control and Adaptive Structures (Vehicle analysis/design using model-based and data driven models)

Abstract:

This paper describes the design of a so-called decentralized gust load alleviation system for an aircraft with high aspect ratio wings. The system uses control loops at each individual aileron actuator that aim to reduce local structural dynamics at each respective point of installation in the wing structure. To this end, each actuator is equipped with a remote electronic unit that incorporates an inertial measurement unit and a processing unit that allows for implementation of a fast, local control loop that combines control surface positioning with local structural damping. At an aircraft level, this renders a decentralized control structure. Although the number of design degrees of freedom is lower than for a centralized system, over-all system complexity is considerably reduced. The presented design shows that remarkable improvement of structural damping and reduction of wing root bending moments can be achieved.