Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2016
In recent years it has grown customary for aircraft firms to put increasing effort into the prediction of flutter during the design stage. This design work, however, is chiefly related to wing flutter in which the control surfaces play little part, whereas the cases of flutter which most commonly occur in reality are those involving control surfaces. The reason for this is that the wing stiffness, and hence the wing weight, is often determined by considerations of main surface flutter. Control surface flutter, however, can often be prevented by methods which do not have a serious effect on the aircraft weight and which are often postponed until after the design stage. This paper will discuss what steps can be taken, both in the design stage and during the flight testing of a prototype, to prevent control surface flutter.
Part I
Only a few, of many possible, references are given. The first three are classical works, each covering a great deal of ground; they are not referred to in the text.