Date of Award

12-1991

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Andrew J. Terzuoli, Jr., PhD

Abstract

The effects of aeroelastic deformations on the radar cross section (RCS) of a T-38 trainer jet and a C-5A transport aircraft are examined and characterized. Realistic representations of structural wing deformations are obtained from a mechanical/computer aided design software package called NASTRAN . NASTRAN is used to evaluate the structural parameters of the aircraft as well as the restraints and loads associated with realistic flight conditions. Geometries for both the non-deformed and deformed airframes are obtained from the NASTRAN models and translated into RCS models. The RCS is analyzed using a numerical modeling code called the Radar Cross Section - Basic Scattering Code, version 2 which was developed at the Ohio State University and is based on the uniform geometric theory of diffraction. The code is used to analyze the effects of aeroelastic deformations on the RCS of the aircraft by comparing the computed RCS representing the deformed airframe to that of the non-deformed airframe and characterizing the differences between them.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GE-ENG-91D-40

DTIC Accession Number

ADA243889

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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