Uncertainty quantification and bifurcation analysis of an airfoil with multiple nonlinearities

In order to calculate the limit cycle oscillations and bifurcations of nonlinear aeroelastic system, the problem of finding periodic solutions with maximum vibration amplitude is transformed into a nonlinear optimization problem. An algebraic system of equations obtained by the harmonic balance method and the stability condition derived from the Floquet theory are used to construct the general nonlinear equality and inequality constraints. The resulting constrained maximization problem is then solved by using the MultiStart algorithm. Finally, the proposed approach is validated, and the effects of structural parameter uncertainty on the limit cycle oscillations and bifurcations of an airfoil with multiple nonlinearities are studied. Numerical examples show that the coexistence of multiple nonlinearities may lead to low amplitude limit cycle oscillation.