Dynamic modeling and motion characteristics analysis of variable-length aerial refueling hose-drogue system

变长度加油软管系统动力学建模及运动特性分析

¹ School of Automation, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
² Xi'an ASN Technology Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an 710065, China

Received: 17 November 2023

Abstract

During the aerial refueling process, the hose-drogue is disturbed by the complex airflow to occur irregular shaking motion, while the hose-drogue in the impact of the receiver often lead to whipping phenomenon, limiting the success rate and safety of refueling. In order to study the motion characteristics of the refueling hose-drogue system, a variable-length dynamic model of the hose-drogue system was established based on the absolute nodal coordinate method. Considering the damping properties of the hose material, the reel movement of the refueling pod mechanism, and the turbulent and wake vortex in the refueling process, according to the multi-body dynamics theory, the accurate dynamic model of the refueling hose-drogue system under the complex wind field is obtained. By using the finite element analysis software ANSYS and Simulink numerical calculation method, the sinking amount of the drogue under the steady dragging state of the hose is simulated, which shows the accuracy and feasibility of the modeling method proposed in this paper. Meanwhile, the Simulink numerical results of the hose-drogue drag are compared with the public data of NASA. Through numerical simulations, the stable dragging state of the refueling hose at different flight altitudes/speeds are determined, the dynamic characteristics of the hose whipping phenomenon at different docking speeds are analyzed, and the influence of different force measurement feedback points on the whipping suppression effect are verified.

摘要

空中加油过程中, 软管锥套受复杂气流干扰发生飘摆运动, 同时在受油机的撞击作用下可产生甩鞭现象, 严重制约了空中加油的成功率及安全性。为了研究软管锥套系统的运动特性, 基于绝对节点坐标方法建立变长度软管动力学模型。同时考虑软管材质的阻尼特性、加油吊舱卷盘机构的收放运动、加油过程中存在的紊流及尾涡等风场环境, 根据多体系统动力学建模理论, 获得软管复杂风场下加油锥套系统动力学模型。利用有限元分析软件ANSYS仿真及Simulink数值计算对软管平稳拖曳状态下锥套的下沉量进行模拟, 同时将锥套平稳拖曳阻力Simulink数值结果与NASA公开数据资料进行比较, 说明所提建模方法的准确性和可行性。通过数值仿真, 确定了不同飞行高度/飞行速度下加油软管的稳定拖曳状态, 分析了不同对接速度下软管甩鞭动力学特性, 验证了不同测力反馈点对甩鞭抑制效果的影响。