State-space model generation for flexible aircraft

Accurate simplification of the equations of motion of an aircraft, in a way that incorporates aeroelastic effects, is important to facilitate the development of reliable time-domain dynamic models. Such time-domain models are useful for control design and for the prediction of dynamic loads early in the design cycle. Various techniques reported in the literature for such model development are critically reviewed. A particular example case is used to illustrate the different methods. The issues involved are highlighted, and two possible error quantification methods are suggested.