A model for unsteady transonic indicial responses

A method of characterizing the indicial curve for the response frequencies of flutter in the transonic regime by means of a time scale parameter is illustrated. Time linearization of the unsteady potential equation is assumed adequate and the perturbed potential about a steady flow is defined with appropriate boundary conditions. An indicial motion can then be obtained for a given mode, with the lift and drag coefficients which result from a step change in incidence or control surface deflection available to describe any kind of motion. The lift and drag coefficients are shown to result analytically by addition of the multiplicand involving the time scale parameter. If the coefficients are maximized, then at reduced frequencies only two parameters are necessary to form the indicial response curve.