Dynamic modeling and performance analysis of a hose-drogue aerial refueling system based on the Kane equation

This paper proposes a dynamic model and performance analysis method of hose-drogue aerial refueling system based on Kane equation by rigid multibody dynamics. In this method, the hose is divided into finite segment rigid joint of bars. To depict spatial state of each hose-bar, system generalized coordinates and generalized rates are defined. A set of multi-level recursive formulas and dynamic equations are derived to describe the dynamic properties of the hose-drogue under a prescribed motion of tanker. To calculate the external aerodynamic loads of each hose-bar, the effects of tanker wake, steady flow and atmospheric turbulence are considered. Numerical simulation results show a good correctness of the dynamic model by steady-state characteristics of the balance drag trajectory of hose-drogue in different flight conditions. Furthermore, the dynamic characteristics of the hose-drogue resulting from atmospheric turbulence are investigated.