Design Optimization of a Composite Wing Box for High-Altitude Long-Endurance Aircraft

<p>A design optimization process is developed to define the wing box structure for High-Altitude Long-Endurance Aircraft (HALE). The goal of this study is to determine the best tradeoff between mass and rigidity of a HALE aircraft wing structure. A preliminary composite laminate structural design procedure is described which uses a NASTRAN-based Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and the Hierarchical Evolutionary Engineering Design System (HEEDS) MDO software to define a locus of acceptable, optimized wing box design definitions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Arévalo, Philip T.

• design optimization
• composites
• high-altitude
• aircraft
• Aerospace Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/edt/16

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:edt-1015