The Fast Simulation of Highly Flexible Flight Dynamics

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A combined formulation of the finite element method and computational fluid dynamics could be used to simulate the flight dynamics of highly flexible aircraft, but this would result in a very computationally expensive problem which may require many hours to solve even with high performance computing resources. The purpose of the proposed project is to reduce the computational cost of the analysis of combined flight dynamics and aeroelastics for highly flexible aircraft through the use of alternative, lower order methods. The project would initially involve investigation into the state of the art low order structural dynamics and fluid dynamics methods. Based on the outcome of the literature review, methods would be chosen to investigate, extend and implement within a computer code. The code will then be verified, most probably using data collected from a highly flexible model aircraft built by a team at the Institute of Aeronautical Technology in Brazil. It is likely that the code may become complex due to the need to be able to model a full model in comparison to a "toy" case. Once verified, the code will be compared to current methods. The code will also be used to investigate design and control problems. For example, the coupling of large elastic deformations between different parts of an aircraft or stability control methods for flexible aircraft. The motivation for this project is the need to increase aircraft efficiency. In order to do this, lighter airframes and higher aspect ratios must be used. In order for traditional flight dynamics laws to be used, the airframe must be stiff enough that the frequencies of the aeroelastics and the flight dynamics are dissimilar. By removing this stiffness constraint, more efficient aircraft may be designed at the cost of extensive consideration of the coupling between aeroelastics and flight dynamics. Analysing this is currently challenging, and is therefore a constraint the industry's ability to improve aircraft efficiency.