Nonlinear supersonic flutter of imperfect circular cylindrical shells

The aeroelastic stability of simply supported, circular cylindrical shells in supersonic flow is investigated by using both linear aerodynamics (first-order piston theory) and nonlinear aerodynamics (third-order piston theory). Geometric nonlinearities, due to finite amplitude shell deformations, are considered by using the Donnell's nonlinear shallow-shell theory, and the effect of viscous structural damping is taken into account. The system is discretized by Galerkin method and is investigated by using a model involving up to 22 degrees of freedom, allowing for travelling-wave flutter around the shell and axisymmetric contraction of the shell. Asymmetric and axisymmetric geometric imperfections of circular cylindrical shells are taken into account. Results show that the system loses stability by travelling-wave flutter around the shell through supercritical bifurcation. Non-simple harmonic motion is observed for sufficiently high post-critical dynamic pressure. A good agreement between theoretical and existing experimental data has been found for the onset of flutter, flutter amplitude and frequency. Results show that onset of flutter is very sensible to small initial imperfections of the shells. The influence of pressure differential across the shell skin has also been deeply investigated. The present study gives, for the first time, results in good agreement with experimental data obtained at the NASA Ames Research Center more than three decades ago.