Prediction of limit cycle oscillations under uncertainty using a Harmonic Balance method. (February 2015) - Hayes, Richard
Highlights: We perform computations of limit cycle oscillations using a high-dimensional Harmonic Balance method. We perform uncertainty quantification for LCO using a non-intrusive polynomial chaos method. We predict super- and sub-critical bifurcations and limit cycle oscillation amplitudes on wing structures. Pentic stiffness is critical to wing subcritical LCO amplitude. Abstract: The Harmonic Balance method is an attractive solution for computing periodic responses and can be an alternative to time domain methods, at a reduced computational cost. The current paper investigates using a Harmonic Balance method for simulating limit cycle oscillations under uncertainty. The Harmonic Balance method is used in conjunction with a non-intrusive polynomial-chaos approach to propagate variability and is validated against Monte Carlo analysis. Results show the potential of the approach for a range of nonlinear dynamical systems, including a full wing configuration exhibiting supercritical and subcritical bifurcations, at a fraction of the cost of performing time domain simulations.