Nonlinear Aeroelastic Modeling and Post-flutter Analysis of a Highly Flexible Wing

High-aspect-ratio wings exhibit significant flexibility, leading to large deformations under aerodynamic loads. These deformations introduce geometric and aerodynamic nonlinearities, complicating the aeroelastic response and potentially causing instability at freestream velocities below the flutter speed. This study develops a tightly coupled nonlinear aeroelastic framework for highly flexible wings. The structure is modeled using strain-based beam theory, which accurately captures large rotations and small strains, while the aerodynamics incorporate inflow theory and static stall corrections. A single-beam wing is analyzed to investigate its modal characteristics, flutter behavior, and gust response, providing a comprehensive understanding of post-flutter dynamics. Results reveal that structural nonlinearity can induce severe oscillations or even divergence at airflow speeds below the flutter speed, as disturbances lead to deformations that lower the flutter threshold. Furthermore, aerodynamic nonlinearity significantly alters the response at large vibration amplitudes, highlighting its critical role in accurate aeroelastic predictions. These findings provide insights into the nonlinear aeroelastic behavior of highly flexible wings and contribute to future studies on stability and control strategies for highly flexible aircraft.