Transonic aeroelastic simulation for instability searches and uncertainty analysis

In this paper the use of eigenvalue stability analysis of very large dimension aeroelastic numerical models arising from the exploitation of computational fluid dynamics is reviewed. A formulation based on a block reduction of the system Jacobian proves powerful to allow various numerical algorithms to be exploited, including frequency domain solvers, reconstruction of a term describing the fluid-structure interaction from the sparse data which incurs the main computational cost, and sampling to place the expensive samples where they are most needed. The stability formulation also allows non-deterministic analysis to be carried out very efficiently through the use of an approximate Newton solver. Finally, the system eigenvectors are exploited to produce nonlinear and parameterised reduced order models for computing limit cycle responses. The performance of the methods is illustrated with results from a number of academic and large dimension aircraft test cases.     

NeoCASS: An integrated tool for structural sizing, aeroelastic analysis and MDO at conceptual design level

This paper presents a design framework called NeoCASS (Next generation Conceptual Aero-Structural Sizing Suite), developed at the Department of Aerospace Engineering of Politecnico di Milano in the frame of SimSAC (Simulating Aircraft Stability And Control Characteristics for Use in Conceptual Design) project, funded by EU in the context of 6th Framework Program. It enables the creation of efficient low-order, medium fidelity models particularly suitable for structural sizing, aeroelastic analysis and optimization at the conceptual design level.The whole methodology is based on the integration of geometry construction, aerodynamic and structural analysis codes that combine depictive, computational, analytical, and semi-empirical methods, validated in an aircraft design environment.The work here presented aims at including the airframe and its effect from the very beginning of the conceptual design. This aspect is usually not considered in this early phase. In most cases, very simplified formulas and datasheets are adopted, which implies a low level of detail and a poor accuracy. Through NeoCASS, a preliminar distribution of stiffness and inertias can be determined, given the initial layout. The adoption of empirical formulas is reduced to the minimum in favor of simple numerical methods. This allows to consider the aeroelastic behavior and performances, as well, improving the accuracy of the design tools during the iterative steps and lowering the development costs and reducing the time to market.The result achieved is a design tool based on computational methods for the aero-structural analysis and Multi-Disciplinary Optimization (MDO) of aircraft layouts at the conceptual design stage. A complete case study regarding the TransoniCRuiser aircraft, including validation of the results obtained using industrial standard tools like MSC/NASTRAN and a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code, is reported. As it will be shown, it is possible to improve the degree of fidelity of the conceptual design process by including tailored numerical tools, overcoming the lacks of statistical methods. The result is a method minimally dependent on datasheets, featuring a good compromise between accuracy and costs.     

On the stability of flexible aircraft

The problem of aircraft stability has been a subject of concern since the beginnings of flight. Traditionally, aircraft stability has been treated within the confines of two separate disciplines, namely, flight dynamics and aeroelasticity. Based on some recent developments in the dynamics and control of flexible aircraft, this investigation uses the system concept to provide a broader approach to aircraft stability in an attempt to bridge the gap between stability as understood in flight dynamics and stability as envisioned in aeroelasticity. To this end, stability is studied in the following four cases: 1) dynamics of whole flexible aircraft using the unified formulation, 2) flight dynamics of quasi-rigid aircraft (aircraft treated as rigid), 3) aeroelasticity of flexible components, such as cantilever wing, cantilever horizontal stabilizer, etc., and 4) aeroelasticity of restrained flexible aircraft (aircraft fixed to a point, hence, having no rigid body degrees of freedom). The paper also presents a method to address the stability of flexible aircraft when the compressibility correction factor is known only at some discrete Mach numbers.     

Suppressing nonlinear aeroelastic response of laminated composite panels in supersonic airflows using a nonlinear energy sink

This paper proposes using a Nonlinear Energy Sink (NES) to suppress the nonlinear aeroelastic response of laminated composite panels in supersonic airflows. Relevant aeroelastic equations are established using Hamilton’s principle and a finite element approach, drawing upon Von Karman’s large deflection theory and first order piston theory. The idea of the NES suppression region is proposed and the effects of NES parameters on the NES suppression region are studied in detail. The results show that the nonlinear aeroelastic responses of the panel can be completely suppressed by the Transient Resonance Capture (TRC); the appropriate NES parameter values can increase the critical dynamic pressure for flutter and suppress the nonlinear aeroelastic response effectively. Increasing the mass ratio of the NES can improve the NES suppression region; the nonlinear stiffness coefficient and damping of the NES within a specific range can suppress the nonlinear aeroelastic response. The most effective installation position for a NES is in a specific region behind the center-line of the panel in the direction of the airflow.     

Static aeroelastic analysis including geometric nonlinearities based on reduced order model

This paper describes a method proposed for modeling large deflection of aircraft in non-linear aeroelastic analysis by developing reduced order model (ROM). The method is applied for solving the static aeroelastic and static aeroelastic trim problems of flexible aircraft containing geo-metric nonlinearities; meanwhile, the non-planar effects of aerodynamics and follower force effect have been considered. ROMs are computational inexpensive mathematical representations com-pared to traditional nonlinear finite element method (FEM) especially in aeroelastic solutions. The approach for structure modeling presented here is on the basis of combined modal/finite ele-ment (MFE) method that characterizes the stiffness nonlinearities and we apply that structure mod-eling method as ROM to aeroelastic analysis. Moreover, the non-planar aerodynamic force is computed by the non-planar vortex lattice method (VLM). Structure and aerodynamics can be cou-pled with the surface spline method. The results show that both of the static aeroelastic analysis and trim analysis of aircraft based on structure ROM can achieve a good agreement compared to anal-ysis based on the FEM and experimental result.     

Integrated optimization on aerodynamics-structure coupling and flight stability of a large airplane in preliminary design

The preliminary phase is significant during the whole design process of a large airplane because of its enormous potential in enhancing the overall performance. However, classical sequential designs can hardly adapt to modern airplanes, due to their repeated iterations, long periods, and massive computational burdens. Multidisciplinary analysis and optimization demonstrates the capability to tackle such complex design issues. In this paper, an integrated optimization method for the preliminary design of a large airplane is proposed, accounting for aerodynamics, structure, and stability. Aeroelastic responses are computed by a rapid three-dimensional flight load analysis method combining the high-order panel method and the structural elasticity correction. The flow field is determined by the viscous/inviscid iteration method, and the cruise stability is evaluated by the linear small-disturbance theory. Parametric optimization is carried out using genetic algorithm to seek the minimal weight of a simplified plate-beam wing structure in the cruise trim condition subject to aeroelastic, aerodynamic, and stability constraints, and the optimal wing geometry shape, front/rear spar positions, and structural sizes are obtained simultaneously. To reduce the computational burden of the static aeroelasticity analysis in the optimization process, the Kriging method is employed to predict aerodynamic influence coefficient matrices of different aerodynamic shapes. The multidisciplinary analyses guarantee computational accuracy and efficiency, and the integrated optimization considers the coupling effect sufficiently between different disciplines to improve the overall performance, avoiding the limitations of sequential approaches utilized currently.     

大展弦比机翼的气动弹性问题探讨

在考察国内外高空长航时飞机研究的基础上，对大展弦比机翼的气动弹性问题进行了探讨；分析了结构非线性对大展弦比机翼的气动弹性和飞行载荷的影响；提出了大展弦比机翼气动弹性问题的研究内容，并指出其技术难点。     

身-翼-舵组合体高超声速变攻角颤振计算

推广和发展了原来只能用于二维升力面的当地流活塞理论,形成可解决包括弹身、弹翼、舵面、身-翼组合体、身-翼-舵组合体大攻角颤振计算的新方法。其中气动力计算采用CFD数值仿真与工程算法相结合的方法,求解结构运动方程时则利用状态空间法进行时域仿真。对某身-翼-舵组合体型号的计算表明该型号颤振动压随马赫数和攻角都呈现先增加后下降的变化趋势;在大马赫数和大攻角作用时,颤振动压有明显的下降;在较小攻角状态下颤振动压不降反升,与传统文献报导单独分枝颤振动压随攻角增大而单调下降不同,表明复杂外形组合体的气动弹性稳定性受到多种因素的共同作用,颤振特性更加复杂。计算结果表明弹体稳定性与飞行姿态相关,同时也证明了本文方法在高超声速复杂外形飞行器提气动弹性分析中的有效性。     

基于全隐式紧耦合算法的气动弹性数值仿真

为进行气动弹性问题的计算,提出了一种全隐式紧耦合算法,在子迭代过程中分别采用LU\|SGS隐格式和隐式线性多步法交替求解气动和结构方程,以获得物理时间域的高精度解。一种径向基函数和超限插值结合的方法被用来进行气动网格的快速变形。运用该算法,进行了Isogai wing和AGARD 445.6 wing的颤振分析,颤振边界的计算结果与文献值和实验值较符合,表明该全隐式紧耦合算法能够有效地计算气动弹性问题。
     

蒸汽轮机成组叶片的气动弹性模型

在分析成组叶片振动特点的基础上, 提出了一个适用于蒸汽轮机成组叶片的气动弹性模型, 应用该模型对某型成组叶片的气动弹性稳定性进行了分析。