Model Reduction of Flexible Aircraft for Flutter Suppression

This paper proposes a model reduction method for linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems based on traditional modal truncation and residualization techniques. The method is applied to a body freedom flutter vehicle with coupled short period and first bending mode and also with structural bending and torsion coupling. These models describe the dynamics with considerable accuracy, but result in high-order state space models which make the controller design extremely difficult. Hence, reduced order models for control synthesis are generated by retaining a common set of states across the flight envelope. As results, full order models of 148 states are reduced to 43 states. The reduced order models capture the dynamics of interest and can be used in the synthesis of active flutter suppression controllers