Introduction to Aircraft Aeroelasticity and Loads

21

Aircraft Design and Certification

The aim of this final part of the book is briefly to outline some of the processes employed in the commercial aerospace industry for aeroelastics and loads analysis. Reference is made to the certification specifications. However, it is recognized that practice across companies and even different aircraft projects will differ so the treatment described is not unique. Where relevant, the processes will be related to the earlier chapters of the book where a simplified approach was taken.

21.1 AEROELASTICS AND LOADS IN THE AIRCRAFT DESIGN PROCESS

Aeroelastic and loads considerations play a part across much of the design and development of an aircraft. The aeroelastic and loads behaviour of the aircraft have an impact upon the concept and detailed structural design, aerodynamic characteristics, weight, jig shape, FCS design, handling qualities, control surface design, propulsion system, performance (effect of flight shape on drag), landing gear design, structural tests, etc.

It can be convenient to think of the design and development cycle as comprising a number of phases:

(a) A concept phase in which the intent is to determine the best viable aircraft concept to meet the design aims. Estimates of loads play an important role here in the process of estimating the structural weight of each concept under consideration and so influencing the design trade-offs between alternative options. Aeroelastics is also important in order to eliminate concepts ...