ABSTRACT

In studying the mechanics of systems, we always start with the equilibrium of objects under the action of external forces. When the system is in motion, we also employ Newton’s laws of motion, which relate the motion with the cause of motion, which is the force. In reality, the mechanical systems that we come across, particularly in engineering applications, are not that simple. The mass is distributed over the entire system and so is the property of elasticity. These are termed as continuous systems. In addition to the mass and elasticity, the system also possesses a distributed damping property. Aeroelasticity is the study of the effect of aerodynamic forces on elastic bodies. In area of elasticity or vibrations, the loads are assumed to be unaffected by the deformation or motion of the structure. However, aerodynamic forces depend critically on the attitude of the body relative to the flow. The elastic deformation plays an important role in determining external loading itself.