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Virginia Tech

Validation and Uncertainty Quantification of Doublet Lattice Flight Loads using Flight Test Data

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This paper presents a framework for tuning, validating, and quantifying uncertainties for flight loads. The flight loads are computed using a Nastran doublet lattice model and are validated using measured data from a flight loads survey for a Cessna Model 525B business jet equipped with Tamarack® Aerospace Group’s active winglet modification, ATLAS® (Active Technology Load Alleviation System). ATLAS® allows for significant aerodynamic improvements to be realized by reducing loads to below the values of the original, unmodified airplane. Flight loads are measured using calibrated strain gages and are used to tune and validate a Nastran doublet-lattice flight loads model. Methods used to tune and validate the model include uncertainty quantification of the Nastran model form and lead to an uncertainty quantified model which can be used to estimate flight loads at any given flight condition within the operating envelope of the airplane. The methods presented herein improve the efficiency of the loads process and reduce conservatism in design loads through improved prediction techniques. Regression techniques and uncertainty quantification methods are presented to more accurately assess the complexities in comparing models to flight test results.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Aerospace Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2018

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Olson, Nicholai Kenneth Keeney
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Patil, Mayuresh J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Roy, Christopher J.
  • Kapania, Rakesh K.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:16615
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/84345

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Olson, Nicholai Kenneth Keeney. Validation and Uncertainty Quantification of Doublet Lattice Flight Loads using Flight Test Data. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/84345