Aerodynamic sensitivity theory for rotary stability derivatives

A nonlinear boundary-value problem (BVP) is developed to describe the stead y compressible flow about a body moving with nonzero angular rates. It is s hown that the most general aerodynamically steady motions are characterized by spiral paths. A continuous sensitivity equation method is then applied to develop a linear BVP that characterizes the sensitivity of the flow to c hanges in angular velocity. The solutions to the sensitivity BVP are used t o compute rotary stability derivatives and comparisons are made to some exi sting methods. The virtue of this approach is that all rotary derivatives c an be estimated based on a single solution for the nonlinear flow equations along with three linear sensitivity equations.