Balanced external gust loads computation and analysis for elastic aircraft

Continuous turbulence is one of gust models for gust loads analysis needed in various aviation regulations. But there exit some difficulties when the loads induced by continuous turbulence applied to aircraft structural design. Based on stationary random process assumption, utilizing power spectral density (PSD) method and von Karman continuous turbulence model, external gust loads were obtained by using force summation method. An approach was presented by introducing correlations and multiple sets of external load distributions due to continuous turbulence was generated. The results from an elastic aircraft encountering vertical continuous turbulence demonstrate that the external gust load distributions are strictly in balance. These load distributions can be applied to structural stress analysis or design when the design conditions are identified through load envelope concept which is frequently applied in maneuvering flight loads analysis.