Abstract:Modern supersonic aircraft employ large-area skin panels to enhance aerodynamic performance and stealth characteristics. However, in complex and harsh mechanical environments, the risk of panel flutter is increasing. This paper aims to improve the flutter stability of the panels by introducing a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) sandwich structure, and to investigate its vibration and flutter characteristics in supersonic airflow. The three-node mindlin plate element (MIN3) and first-order piston theory aerodynamic force with an airflow yawed angle have been employed to establish the aeroelastic equation of three-dimensional MRF sandwich panel. Under the simply supported boundary condition, the influence of parameters such as magnetic field strength, thicknesses of MRF layer and upper and lower surface layers, and airflow yawed angle on the modal frequency and critical flutter dynamic pressure of the sandwich panel is studied by solving the eigenvalue. The results indicate that the modal frequency and flutter critical dynamic pressure of MRF sandwich panel increase with the increase of magnetic field strength. However, when the magnetic field strength increases to a certain value, they will decrease by the increase in magnetic field strength. When the magnetic field strength is constant, the modal frequency decreases with the increase of the MRF layer thickness, and increases with the increase of upper surface layer thickness. The flutter critical dynamic pressure of the panel decreases first and then increases with the increase of the MRF layer thickness, and increases with the increase of the upper surface layer thickness. When other parameters remain unchanged, the flutter critical dynamic pressure of the panel gradually decreases with the increase of the airflow yawed angle.