Integrated aerodynamic-structural design optimization

The introduction of composite materials in aircraft structures is having a profound effect on the design process. These materials permit the designer to tailor material properties to improve structural and aerodynamic performance. In order to obtain maximum benefits, a more integrated multidisciplinary design process is required. Furthermore, because of the complexity of the combined aerodynamic/structural design process numerical optimization methods are required. The present research is focused on a major difficulty associated with the multidisciplinary design optimization process - its enormous computational cost. We consider two approaches for reducing this computational burden: (i) development of efficient methods for cross-sensitivity calculation using perturbation methods; and (ii) the use of approximate numerical optimization procedures. Our efforts are concentrated upon combined aerodynamic-structural optimization. Results are presented for the integrated design of a sailplane wing. The impact of our computational procedures on the computational costs of integrated designs are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1987

Author dc:creator

• Eppard, William M.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/90966

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/90966