Experimental Characterization of the Flutter Behavior of a Very Flexible Wing

This study presents and summarizes the results of three wind tunnel campaigns involving the highly flexible PAZY wing model. Experiments conducted in closed-section wind tunnels showed considerable agreement with existing literature and results from a low-order numerical model. More in general, the dynamic response was found to be significantly influenced by wind tunnel characteristics and boundary conditions. The objectives of the campaigns included characterizing the onset of linear instability and Limit Cycle Oscillations (LCO) within the angle of attack range of 3 to 10 degrees. A key finding concerns the analysis of LCO onset and the evidence of its subcritical nature. Additionally, it was observed that minor manufacturing differences, leading to variations in structural damping and aerodynamic forces, significantly impact LCO amplitude. This particular aspect has not been comprehensively analyzed in previous studies involving the PAZY wing.