Preliminary validation of a coupled model of nonlinear aeroelasticity and flight dynamics for HALE aircraft

A coupled model of aeroelasticity and flight dynamics for high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft is under development based on the geometrically exact, fully intrinsic beam theory, ONERA aerodynamic stall model, and six degrees of freedom model of rigid body motion. The correlation among the present model, MSC/Nastran, UM/NAST, and NATASHA was studied, including the cases of static equilibrium and forced vibration of a split beam system and trim of a Flying-Wing aircraft. The preliminary validation indicates that the present model is effective in modeling a split beam system and the trim of HALE aircraft.