Aeroelasticity and flutter
The CSIR is a leader in aeroelasticity technology and has cleared more than 200 aircraft configurations for the South African Air Force (SAAF), as well as for local and international clients since the 1970s. Over time, the CSIR has developed its own ground vibration test (GVT) systems and its own full suite of flutter clearance software. As the military demand decreased, the CSIR started serving the civilian market. Apart from a novel Controller Area Network bus-based GVT system, the CSIR developed smart support systems for ground vibration testing of light aircraft and in-flight excitation systems for flutter flight testing of light to supersonic aircraft.
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Our capabilities
The aeroelasticity-related capabilities, include finite element modelling, GVT, modal and unsteady aerodynamics analysis, and flutter excitation and analysis to support flight testing.
Flutter excitation system
The purpose of a flutter exciter is to impart a vibration into a structure. Installed on the test aircraft, it provides an energy input for the aircraft structure to excite all the natural modes. These structural vibrations are measured by accelerometers and the responses are used to determine whether flutter onset is likely or not. Our flutter exciter is based on an annular wing concept used for both civilian and high-speed military aircraft.