A note on typographical errors defining Theodorsen's coefficients for aeroelastic analysis

Abstract

The problem of flutter is an important topic involving aeroelastic analysis. The first approach to studying this problem was proposed by Theodore Theodorsen in 1935 and, since that publication, Theodorsen's theory has been extensively used by many researchers. However, it is common to find typographical errors in the definitions of the coefficients introduced by Theodorsen to determine the aerodynamic forces in a typical section airfoil. In this context, this paper summarizes the most common typographical errors found in the literature and includes mathematical demonstrations to clarify the correct form of those coefficients.