Parametrization of Airloads Using a Homogeneity-based Orthogonal Decomposition

This work proposes a novel parametrization strategy for steady aerodynamic forces. We point out that air-loads are homogeneous and enforce this property by using a parametrization based on spherical harmonics. The parametrization enables an analogue of frequency-based truncation and a variation on the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), constituting an orthogonal decomposition of the modeled airloads. The method's utility is showcased for model reduction and identification purposes.