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Sequential use of conceptual MDO and panel sizing methods for aircraft wing design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

R. Butler,
M. Lillico,
J. R. Banerjee,
M. H. Patel and
G. T. S. Done
R. Butler
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath Bath, UK
M. Lillico
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath Bath, UK
J. R. Banerjee
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, City University, London, UK
M. H. Patel
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, City University, London, UK
G. T. S. Done
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, City University, London, UK
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Abstract

The optimisation results for composite and metallic versions of a regional aircraft wing are compared using the multidisciplinary optimisation (MDO) program CALFUNOPT. The program has been developed for the conceptual design stage and models the wing using just 11 beam elements. The wing has been optimised for three combinations of the following constraint cases: static strength; aeroelastic roll efficiency (represented by limiting the twist of the wing for an aileron loading) and aeroelastic divergence. As expected, comparison shows that the composite wing designs are significantly lighter than the metallic ones, due to the well-known tailoring of the composite material. However, the simple model reveals some insight that may be useful to the designer, and which could be lost within a more detailed finite element approach.

The upper-skin compression panels produced by the conceptual MDO program, for both versions of the wing, have then been optimised using the more detailed and accurate panel sizing tool VICONOPT, which takes buckling into account. Such optimisation increases the panel mass by 5-10% and also provides a suitable ratio of stiffener to skin area for use in the conceptual MDO model.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 103 , Issue 1026 , August 1999, pp. 389 - 397
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1999 

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