Modeling and Bifurcation Analysis of Longitudinal Dynamics of an Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle

TL;DR

This paper develops a nonlinear longitudinal dynamics model for an Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle, verifies it through modal analysis, and explores its bifurcation behavior under various control parameters using numerical continuation.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled nonlinear model of ABHV dynamics and applies bifurcation analysis to understand stability and dynamic transitions, which is novel in hypersonic vehicle modeling.

Findings

Model verified with modal analysis results from literature

Bifurcation points identified for control parameters

Dynamic behavior characterized by stability and bifurcation analysis

Abstract

A nonlinear model of an Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle (ABHV) longitudinal dynamics characterized by coupling of aerodynamic and propulsive terms is presented in this paper. The model is verified using modal analysis carried out around a design operating condition with results available in the literature. Further, parametric dynamic behavior is computed for the model as steady states with local stability with respect to its control inputs, elevator and fuel-equivalence ratio in four different cases using a numerical continuation algorithm. Detailed analysis of the qualitative longitudinal dynamics of the model is carried out based on bifurcation theory methodology. Numerical simulation results are presented to verify bifurcation analysis results.