Date of Award

4-2009

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Campus Only

Abstract

The present work is dynamic modeling of hose-and-drogue assembly for mid-air operations. This hose-and-drogue assembly is typically used in aerial refueling. A governing system dynamic model is developed, which describes the motion of hosedrogue assembly under prescribed motion of a tanker. The hose is modeled by a series of ball-and-socket joints connected by rigid links which are subjected to gravitational and aerodynamic forces that take into account the effect of the tanker wake as well as atmospheric turbulence.

A comparison between system responses with and without the effect of the tanker wake is presented. The static hose-paradrogue trail positions for the operational flight envelop of the aerial refueling are investigated, and compared to the flight test results previously reported. The effect of the paradrogue drag on the hose-drogue system is studied as it may be altered in-flight through the drogue strut angle changes. Tensions responses along the hose are investigated. Finally, dynamic responses to changing the paradrogue strut angle and the tanker speed are studied.

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