Aeroelastic divergence of unrestrained vehicles

T effect of inertial relief on the aeroelastic redistribution of wing lift is discussed in Refs. 1-3. Reference 2 also discusses aeroelastic divergence with a distinction being made between static divergence of a restrained vehicle and dynamic divergence of an unrestrained vehicle. Equation (7-127) of Ref. 2 states the eigenvalue problem for dynamic divergence of a vehicle with a single rigid-body degree of freedom in plunge. We wish to generalize that result to multiple rigid-body degrees of freedom by following the development of Ref. 3 while using the notation of Refs. 4-6. The net force distribution [F] acting on a flexible lifting surface or body is the difference between the aerodynamic forces [Fa} and the inertial forces [F,).