New Approach to the Ground Flutter Simulation Test

A more practical method for determining the locations of the measurement points (MPs) and the excitation points (EPs) in ground flutter simulation tests (GFSTs) was investigated. The locations were based on interpolated primary mode shapes to produce an accurate flutter response. Virtual MPs and EPs were added at the boundaries to improve the accuracy of the GFST. The results for a clamped rectangular plate showed that the proposed method produced results consistent with the nominal values. Force control of the shakers was accomplished with a low-order controller suitable for engineering applications using the structural invariance principle. The forces exerted on the plate matched the calculated concentrated forces, ensuring that the experimental results were accurate. The flutter speed and frequency obtained from a GFST had relative errors of 4.3 and 4.9%, respectively, with respect to the nominal results.