Abstract: Maneuver flight loads are the foundation of aircraft structural design. It is a challenge to accurately and rapidly obtain maneuver flight loads in aircraft development. Due to the high structural stiffness, the influence of elastic deformation is usually not considered in early aircraft design, or the elastic correction is performed based on rigid maneuver flight loads. With the continuous increase in the flight speed and structural flexibility of modern aircraft, structural elastic deformation leads to significant changes in the distribution of maneuver flight loads, directly impacting the flight safety and quality of aircraft, so it requires a comprehensive consideration of the coupling between aerodynamics and structure. Aiming at the complex coupling effects of aircraft, several analysis methods with different accuracy and efficiency are rapidly developed. The load alleviation technology helps reduce the weight and increase the overall performance while satisfying the same requirements of the maneuver characteristics, stiffness and strength, which is a hot topic in research in this field. This paper first summarizes the overall requirements and technical framework for the analysis and alleviation of maneuver flight load in modern flexible aircraft. Then the analysis methods of flight loads, including aerodynamics, structural strength/stiffness, data mapping, flight mechanics, etc., are introduced. The domestic and foreign technologies of maneuver load alleviation are reviewed. Subsequently, the cases of simulation, experiment, and alleviation of maneuver flight loads are reviewed. Finally, the key issues of maneuver flight loads and the development of alleviation technology are discussed in the future, in order to provide some ideas for researchers in this field.

Key words: Flight load, Maneuver load, Aeroelasticity, Load alleviation, Wind tunnel test, Flight test