8,052 research outputs found
Optimal design of a composite wing structure for a flying-wing aircraft subject to multi-constraint
No full textThis thesis presents a research project and results of design and optimization of a composite wing structure for a large aircraft in flying wing configuration. The design process started from conceptual design and preliminary design, which includes initial sizing and stressing followed by numerical modelling and analysis of the wing structure. The research was then focused on the minimum weight optimization of the /composite wing structure /subject to multiple design /constraints. The modelling, analysis and optimization process has been performed by using the NASTRAN code. The methodology and technique not only make the modelling in high accuracy, but also keep the whole process within one commercial package for practical application.
The example aircraft, called FW-11, is a 250-seat commercial airliner of flying wing configuration designed through our MSc students Group Design Project (GDP) in Cranfield University. Started from conceptual design in the GDP, a high-aspect-ratio and large sweepback angle flying wing configuration has been adopted. During the GDP, the author was responsible for the structural layout design and material selection. Composite material has been chosen as the preferable material for both the inner and outer wing components. Based on the derivation of structural design data in the conceptual phase, the author continued with the preliminary design of the outer wing airframe and then focused on the optimization of the composite wing structure. Cont/d
Optimal design of a flying-wing aircraft inner wing structure configuration
No full textFlying-wing aircraft are considered to have great advantages and potentials in
aerodynamic performance and weight saving. However, they also have many
challenges in design. One of the biggest challenges is the structural design of
the inner wing (fuselage). Unlike the conventional fuselage of a tube
configuration, the flying-wing aircraft inner wing cross section is limited to a
noncircular shape, which is not structurally efficient to resist the internal
pressure load. In order to solve this problem, a number of configurations have
been proposed by other designers such as Multi Bubble Fuselage (MBF),
Vaulted Ribbed Shell (VLRS), Flat Ribbed Shell (FRS), Vaulted Shell
Honeycomb Core (VLHC), Flat Sandwich Shell Honeycomb Core (FLHC), Y
Braced Box Fuselage and the modified fuselage designed with Y brace
replaced by vaulted shell configurations. However all these configurations still
inevitably have structural weight penalty compared with optimal tube fuselage
layout. This current study intends to focus on finding an optimal configuration
with minimum structural weight penalty for a flying-wing concept in a preliminary
design stage.
A new possible inner wing configuration, in terms of aerodynamic shape and
structural layout, was proposed by the author, and it might be referred as
‘Wave-Section Configuration’. The methodologies of how to obtain a structurally
efficient curvature of the shape, as well as how to conduct the initial sizing were
incorporated.
A theoretical analysis of load transmission indicated that the Wave-Section
Configuration is feasible, and this was further proved as being practical by FE
analysis. Moreover, initial FE analysis and comparison of the Wave-Section
Configuration with two other typical configurations, Multi Bubble Fuselage and
Conventional Wing, suggested that the Wave-Section Configuration is an
optimal design in terms of weight saving. However, due to limitations of the
author’s research area, influences on aerodynamic performances have not yet
been taken into account
Influence of wing kinematics on aerodynamic performance in hovering insect flight
No full textThe influence of different wing kinematic models on the aerodynamic performance of a hovering insect is investigated by means of two-dimensional time-dependent Navier–Stokes simulations. For this, simplified models are compared with averaged representations of the hovering fruit fly wing kinematics. With increasing complexity, a harmonic model, a Robofly model and two more-realistic fruit fly models are considered, all dynamically scaled at Re = 110. To facilitate the comparison, the parameters of the models were selected such that their mean quasi-steady lift coefficients were matched. Details of the vortex dynamics, as well as the resulting lift and drag forces, were studied. The simulation results reveal that the fruit fly wing kinematics result in forces that differ significantly from those resulting from the simplified wing kinematic models. In addition, light is shed on the effect of different characteristic features of the insect wing motion. The angle of attack variation used by fruit flies increases aerodynamic performance, whereas the deviation is probably used for levelling the forces over the cycle.Aerospace Design, Integration and OperationsAerospace Engineerin
"I know exactly how you feel" [Sir Eric Willis weighed down by Tom Lewis and Neville Wran weighed down by Gough Whitlam] [picture] /
No full textTitle devised by cataloguer.; "1976, NSW State Election, Lib Willis weighed down by reputation of right wing predecessor Lewis, Wran weighed down by Whitlam, now fed oppn leader." -- Printed in ink on verso.; Published in the Bulletin on 1 May 1976.; Part of the Moir collection of cartoons and drawings.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3081525
Preliminary fuselage structural configuration of a flying-wing type airline
No full textThe flying-wing is a type of configuration which is a tailless airplane accommodating all of its parts within the outline of a single airfoil. Theoretically, it has the most aerodynamic efficiency. The fuel consumption can be more efficient than the existed conventional airliner. It seems that this configuration can achieve the above mentioned requirements.
According to these outstanding advantages, many aircraft companies did a great deal of projects on the flying-wing concept. However, the application was only for sport and military use; for airliner, none of them entered production.
FW-11 is a flying-wing configuration airliner which is a design cooperation between Cranfield University and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Aiming the spatial economic and environmental needs, this 200-seat airliner would attract attention from airline companies for cost saving and environmental protection.
Before start, this program is designated for a new generation commercial aircraft to compete with the existing same capability airliner, such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 767. As the first team of this program, the aim is to finish the conceptual design and prepare the relevant document for next two teams that will perform preliminary and detail design.
As a member of FW-11 program and as part of the GDP, the author has been through the four conceptual design stages: engine manufacturers, aircraft family issues, structure design and the establishment of 3-D CAD model.
The aim of IRP study is to focus on the initial fuselage design
Analysis of composite wing structures with a morphing leading edge
No full textOne of the main challenges for the civil aviation industry is the reduction of its environmental impact. Over the past years, improvements in performance efficiency have been achieved by simplifying the design of the structural components and using composite materials to reduce the overall weight. These approaches however, are not sufficient to meet the current demanding requirements set for a „greener‟ aircraft.
Significant changes in drag reduction and fuel consumption can be obtained by using new technologies, such as smart morphing structures. These concepts will in fact help flow laminarisation, which will increase the lift to drag ratio. Furthermore, the capability to adapt the wing shape will enable to optimise the aerodynamic performance not only for a single flight condition but during the entire mission. This will significantly improve the aircraft efficiency.
The current research work has been carried out as part of the European Commission founded Seventh Framework Program called „Smart High Lift Device for the Next Generation Wing‟ (SADE), which main aim is to develop and study morphing high lift devices. The author‟s investigation focused on developing a design concept for the actuation mechanism of a morphing leading edge device. A detailed structural analysis has been carried out in order to demonstrate its feasibility.In the first phase of the research the attention was directed on the preliminary design and analysis of the composite wing box. The parameters of the key structural components, such as skin, spars, ribs and stringers were set to satisfy the static stress and buckling requirements. Moreover, numerical and experimental studies were conducted to analyse the static failure and buckling behaviour of two typical composite wing structural components: a spar section and a web and base joint assembly.
In the second stage of the research, a design for the morphing leading edge actuation mechanism was developed. The actuation system was designed in such a way that the target shape was reached with minimum actuation force demand. A geometrical nonlinear FE analysis was conducted to simulate the leading edge morphing deflection and ensure that structural strength requirements were satisfied. Furthermore, the behaviour of the skin integrated with the internal actuation mechanism was modelled under the aerodynamic pressure, at different flight conditions and gust loads, in order to prove that the proposed actuation system can compete with the conventional rigid rib.
This study demonstrated that a feasible morphing leading edge design for a next generation large aircraft wing can be achieved. Developing the readiness of this technology will have a significant impact on aircraft efficiency and considerable contribution towards a more environmental friendly aviation
Development of an aircraft design expert system
No full textThe aircraft design process is characterised by the application
of a wide range of knowledge across many disciplines based upon a
certain degree of judgement and experience of the designer. A two
pass approach has been taken towards the development of an aircraft
design expert system based on the requirements of two conceptually
different design steps namely, wing design and aircraft configuration.
The current status of the work is one where an actual program for wing
design exists with supporting documentation, and a very effective
examination of the knowledge base performed based on the detail
investigation of overall aircraft design process with particular
emphasis on the wing design and the aircraft configuration design
steps.
The approach taken accomplishes the objectives of the current
research in defining the knowledge base, providing tools and
specifications for tools to be used within an aircraft design expert
system closely following the problem-solving techniques utilised by
the design expert
Direct numerical simulation of the flow around a wing section at moderate Reynolds numbers
No full textA three dimensional direct numerical simulation has been performed to study the flow around the asymmetric NACA-4412 wing at a moderate chord Reynolds number (Rec = 400, 000) with an angle of attack of 5◦ . The flow case under investigation poses numerous challenges for a numerical method due to the wide range of scales and complicated flow physics induced by the geometry. The mesh is optimized and well resolved to account for such varying scales in the flow. An unsteady volume force is used to trip the flow to turbulence on both sides of the wing at 10% chord. Full turbulent statistics are computed on the fly to further investigate the complicated flow features around the wing. The present simulation shows the potential of high-order methods in simulating complex external flows at moderately high Reynolds numbers
Lucius B. Wing letter to wife, December 20, 1862
No full textIn this letter to his wife written between December 20-23, 1862, Lucius Wing relates his first-hand experience during the Confederate raid on the Union supply depot at Holly Springs, Mississippi. During this raid, rebel soldiers led by Confederate general Earl Van Dorn captured around 1,500 Union soldiers and destroyed Union supplies, disrupting and delaying General Ulysses S. Grant's efforts to defeat the Confederates at Vicksburg.
Wing (November 15, 1822-February 1, 1902) was born in Wilmington, Vermont, and moved to Newark, Ohio, in December of 1853 where he became a wealthy and successful merchant. During the Civil War, Wing was present at the Confederate raid at Holly Springs (spelled in the letter as Holley Springs) and was captured and questioned by Confederate forces despite being a civilian. Following the war, Wing continued his prosperous business career and served as both a member of the State Board of Agriculture and as a trustee of the Ohio State University, the latter until his death in 1902
High-Pressure Capturing Wing Configurations
No full textThis paper proposes a family of high-pressure capturing wing configurations that aim to improve the aerodynamic performance of hypersonic vehicles with large volumes. The predominant visual feature of such configurations is a thin wing called a high-pressure capturing wing attached to the top of an upwarp airframe. When flying in the hypersonic regime high-pressure airflow compressed by the upper surface of the vehicle acts on the high-pressure capturing wing and significantly augments lift on the vehicle with only a small increase in drag producing a correspondingly high increase in its lift-to-drag ratio. A series of numerical validations were carried out on the basis of both inviscid and viscous computational models in which ideal cones with different cone angles and combined cone-waverider bodies with different volumes were used as airframes. The results clearly demonstrate that a configuration using a high-pressure capturing wing has a significantly higher lift (with a correspondingly high value of lift-to-drag ratio) than one without a high-pressure capturing wing especially for vehicles with large volumes. This paper contains a preliminary results-based report of the conditions under which high-pressure capturing wing configurations were tested
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