A review on non-linear aeroelasticity of high aspect-ratio wings

• Published in: Progress in aerospace sciences Vol. 89; pp. 40 - 57
• Main Authors: Afonso, Frederico, Vale, José, Oliveira, Éder, Lau, Fernando, Suleman, Afzal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Aeroelasticity; Airborne observation; Aircraft components; Aircraft configurations; Aircraft design; Computational aeroelasticity; Emissions; Energy consumption; Environmental regulations; Flexible structures; Geometric non-linearities; High aspect ratio; High aspect-ratio wings; Induced drag; Non-linear aeroelasticity; State-of-the-art reviews; Wings (aircraft); 99-00; Geometric non-linearities; High aspect-ratio wings; 00-01; Non-linear aeroelasticity; Computational aeroelasticity; Flexible structures
• ISSN: 0376-0421; 1873-1724
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paerosci.2016.12.004

Current economic constraints and environmental regulations call for design of more efficient aircraft configurations. An observed trend in aircraft design to reduce the lift induced drag and improve fuel consumption and emissions is to increase the wing aspect-ratio. However, a slender wing is more flexible and subject to higher deflections under the same operating conditions. This effect may lead to changes in dynamic behaviour and in aeroelastic response, potentially resulting in instabilities. Therefore, it is important to take into account geometric non-linearities in the design of high aspect-ratio wings, as well as having accurate computational codes that couple the aerodynamic and structural models in the presence of non-linearities. Here, a review on the state-of-the-art on non-linear aeroelasticity of high aspect-ratio wings is presented. The methodologies employed to analyse high aspect-ratio wings are presented and their applications discussed. Important observations from the state-of-the-art studies are drawn and the current challenges in the field are identified.