Effects of aeroelastic coupling accuracy and geometrical nonlinearity on performances of optimized composite wings

Abstract

The design of next-generation aircraft utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has garnered significant attention due to its enhanced efficiency, driving the demand for simulation-based design approaches. This study presents a numerical investigation into the impact of aeroelastic coupling accuracy and geometrical nonlinearity on the aerodynamic performance and structural sizing of CFRP wings with optimized planforms and varying aspect ratios. The optimization process employed the NSGA-II genetic algorithm, integrated with a two-way aeroelastic analysis framework and structural sizing for CFRP wings. A trade-off between minimizing aerodynamic drag and structural weight was successfully identified. A comprehensive analysis of the optimal wing designs on the Pareto front was conducted, focusing on the effects of aeroelastic coupling accuracy, geometrical nonlinearity, and wingspan variations to evaluate their impacts on each objective function. The results revealed that optimal wing designs with higher aspect ratios demonstrated increased structural weight and reduced drag, and were more sensitive to the effects of coupling methods and geometrical nonlinearity due to their higher structural flexibility and resultant follower forces.