Ground Vibration Characterization of a Missile System for Flutter Energy Definition.

摘要

Changing world scenarios and mission requirements have generated the need to retrofit an all aspect defensive missile system to Patrol airplanes. To this end the AIM-9 Sidewinder was selected and installed on a P-3 at the Navy Air Test Center for envelope expansion and separation tests. The added mass and pitch inertia of this system on the outer wing station may combine with the outer wing characteristics to cause catastrophic flutter. A ground vibration analysis was set up to experimentally measure and analytically model the modal characteristics of the stand alone weapon assembly. This weapon system modal characterization can be analyzed in conjunction with the original bare wing dynamic model leading to an assessment of the flight envelope and a safe-in flight flutter test. The facility and methodologies established in this investigation can also be used to characterize other candidate missile systems. This will provide timely fleet relevant results and generate expected cost savings of over 200K dollars.