Decoupler Pylon: A Simple, Effective Wing/Store Flutter Suppressor

Abstract

As an alternative to alleviating wing/store flutter by conventional passive methods or by more advanced active control methods, a quasi-passive concept, referred to as the decoupler pylon, is investigated which combines desirable features of both methods. Passive soft-spring/damper elements are used to decouple wing modes from store pitch modes, and a low-power control system maintains store alignment under changing mean loads. It is shown by analysis and wind tunnel tests that the decoupler pylon provides substantial increase in flutter speed and makes flutter virtually insensitive to inertia and center-of-gravity location of the store.