Comparative Analysis of PSD Estimation Techniques for Wind Gust Signals: From Flight Campaigns to Satellite Data

This project involves a methodological analysis of wind gust spectra, specifically focusing on the estimation of wind gust power spectral density (PSD). The study systematically investigates three distinct spectral estimation approaches: zero-padding, Welch’s method, and a length-weighted PSD formulation. The primary objective is to rigorously evaluate the accuracy, robustness, and practical suitability of these techniques when applied to wind-gust signals. Data sources include measurements from onboard sensors collected during a dedicated flight test campaign and measurements obtained from a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite platform. Comparative results indicate that Welch’s method provides the most stable and reliable PSD estimates for flight-test data, demonstrating superior variance reduction and spectral smoothness. While this

approach can be extended to satellite-based signals, the inherently low sampling frequency of LEO data significantly constrains their usable bandwidth. Consequently, satellite-derived gust spectra exhibit limited relevance for detailed assessments of aircraft structural response and fatigue, although they retain value for large-scale atmospheric characterization.

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