Areader who achieves a substantial command of the material con tained in this book should be able to read with understanding most of the literature in the field. Possible exceptions may be certain special aspects of the subject such as the aeroelasticity of plates and sheIls or the use of electronic feedback control to modify aeroelastic behavior. The first author has considered the former topic in aseparate volume. The latter topic is also deserving of aseparate volume. In the first portion of the book the basic physical phenomena of divergence, control surface eflectiveness, flutter and gust response of aeronautical vehicles are treated. As an indication of the expanding scope of the field, representative examples are also drawn from the non aeronautical literature. To aid the student who is encountering these phenomena for the first time, each is introduced in the context of a simple physical model and then reconsidered systematicaIly in more compli cated models using more sophisticated mathematics.

Aeroelastic phenomena arising from the interaction of aerodynamic, elastic and inertia forces, and the loads resulting from flight / ground manoeuvres and gust / turbulence encounters, have a significant influence upon aircraft design. The prediction of aircraft aeroelastic stability, response and loads requires application of a range of interrelated engineering disciplines. This new textbook introduces the foundations of aeroelasticity and loads for the flexible aircraft, providing an understanding of the main concepts involved and relating them to aircraft behaviour and industrial practice. This book includes the use of simplified mathematical models to demonstrate key aeroelastic and loads phenomena including flutter, divergence, control effectiveness and the response and loads resulting from flight / ground manoeuvres and gust / turbulence encounters. It provides an introduction to some up-to-date methodologies for aeroelastics and loads modelling. It lays emphasis on the strong link between aeroelasticity and loads. It also includes provision of MATLAB and SIMULINK programs for the simplified analyses. It offers an overview of typical industrial practice in meeting certification requirements.

This book is the sixth edition. It is suitable for one or more courses at the advanced undergraduate level and graduate level to cover the field of aeroelasticity. It is also of value to the research scholar and engineering practitioner who wish to understand the state of the art in the field. This book covers the basics of aeroelasticity or the dynamics of fluid–structure interaction. While the field began in response to the rapid development of aviation, it has now expanded into many branches of engineering and scientific disciplines and treats physical phenomena from aerospace engineering, bioengineering, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering in addition to drawing the attention of mathematicians and physicists. The basic questions addressed are dynamic stability and response of fluid structural systems as revealed by both linear and nonlinear mathematical models and correlation with experiment. The use of scaled models and full-scale experiments and tests play a key role where theory is not considered sufficiently reliable.