Stability of Flexible Orthotropic Rectangular Plates in Supersonic Flow: Amplitude-Speed Dependency in Precritical and Postcritical Flight Conditions

Abstract

This paper provides insights into the stability of flexible orthotropic rectangular plates in supersonic flow by revealing the amplitude-speed dependency behavior for such panels in precritical and postcritical flight conditions. Flutter and postflutter behaviors are discussed to highlight the important effect of the structural and aerodynamic nonlinearities inherently present for panels in high-speed flows. The influence of transversal shear on stability is also illustrated. Depending on the plate’s geometrical parameters, soft- and hard-type flutter behaviors are possible, and a graphical interpretation is provided along with pertinent conclusions.