Interpolation-Based Modeling Methodology for Efficient Aeroelastic Control of a Folding Wing

The aeroelastic model of a folding wing varies with different configurations, so it actually represents a parameter-varying system. Firstly, a new approach based on interpolation of local models is proposed to generate the linear parameter-varying model of a folding wing. This model is capable of predicting the aeroelastic responses during the slow morphing process and is suitable for subsequent control synthesis. The underlying inconsistencies among local linear time-invariant (LTI) models are solved through the modal matching of structural modes and the special treatment of the rational functions in aerodynamic models. Once the local LTI models are represented in a coherent state-space form, the aeroservoelastic (ASE) model at any operating point can be immediately generated by the matrix interpolation technique. Next, based on the present ASE model, the design of a parameterized controller for suppressing the gust-induced vibration is studied. The receptance method is applied to derive fixed point controllers, and the effective independence method is adopted and modified for optimal sensor placement in variable configurations, which can avoid solving ill-conditioned feedback gains. Numerical simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed interpolation-based modeling approach, and the parameterized controller exhibits a good gust mitigation effect within a wide parameter-varying range. This paper provides an effective and practical solution for modeling and control of the parameterized aeroelastic system.