Lpv representation of unsteady aerodynamics and stall

Developing an aerodynamic system model adequate for control system design and testing is traditionally expensive and time intensive. Costs are associated with producing underlying aerodynamic models that require extensive wind tunnel testing or linearized abstractions of first-principle, aerodynamic-force analysis; both approaches leave room for improvement in terms of the cost, development time, and accuracy of the aerodynamic models. In the present work, an affine-linear parameter-varying model for aerodynamic loading of a 1-DOF flat plate is developed. Specifically, the flat plate loading is approximated using a lower-order, compact system model with calibration and evaluation over range of prescribed motions. These motions include aggressive pitch-hold motions as well as certain nonlinear aerodynamic effects such as light-moderate static at Re ~100000. It is believed that the findings from a flat plate can be later extended to similar models to design control systems for more complex systems.