Tiltrotor whirl-flutter stability analysis using the maximum Lyapunov characteristic exponent estimated from time series

Abstract. Stability analysis and assessment are fundamental in the analysis and design of dynamical systems. Particularly in rotorcraft dynamics, problems often exhibit time-periodic behavior, and modern designs consider nonlinearities to achieve a more accurate representation of the system dynamics. Nonlinearities in rotorcraft may arise from factors such as nonlinear damper constitutive laws or the influence of fluid-structure interaction, among others. Regardless of their origin, quantifying the stability of nonlinear systems typically relies on calculating their Jacobian matrix. However, accessing the Jacobian matrix of a system is often challenging or impractical, calling for the use of data-driven methods. This introduces additional complexity in capturing the characteristic dynamics of the system. Hence, a data-driven approach is proposed that utilizes the Largest Lyapunov Characteristic Exponent, obtained by analyzing the system's time series.