Symmetric flutter characteristics of a hypothetical delta wing

Abstract

This report considers the flutter characteristics of a hypothetical Delta wing. It details the results of quaternary calculations showing the effect on the reduced critical speed of the shapes and relative natural frequencies of the first two normal modes of the aircraft. From these results the stiffnesses necessary to avoid flutter are deduced for two forms of wing structure. The aerodynamic forces have been obtained by using two-dimensional derivatives multiplied by the cosine of the quarter-chord sweepback in conjunction with strip theory applied to fore-and-aft strips. This procedure is of doubtful validity for the low aspect-ratio wing considered. With this reservation, however, the results confirm the adequacy of the present Ministry of Supply wing-stiffness requirement.