Abstract: The success of an aerial refueling task depends on the successful docking between the refueling drogue and the probe of the receiver aircraft. The study of contact dynamic behaviors during the process is the prerequisite to realize successful docking. A dynamics model of the docking process is established according to the multi-body dynamics theory to obtain the generalized velocity between the refueling drogue and the receiver aircraft. The relative velocities among local contact points are obtained through the contact dynamics model that has been established. Based on the nonlinear continuum collision theory, this paper proposes a calculation method of the collision force during the docking process. Meanwhile, a virtual prototype for docking is created by means of software ADAMS. The response curves of the collision force and velocity are obtained through dynamic simulations of the virtual prototype. Meanwhile, the specific ranges of each parameter in a successful docking are obtained. The results indicate that there are three main parameters that affect the docking process: the initial relative velocity, the pitch angle of the refueling drogue and the centerline offset between the refueling drogue and the probe. The study is significant to the docking process and receiver aircraft navigation in an aerial refueling.

Key words: aerial refueling, docking, contact dynamics, nonlinear continuum collision theory, collision force