Abstract:

An analytical approach is proposed to obtain the sensitivity of structural responses in aeroelastic tailoring. And analytical expressions in closed form for structural aeroelastic responses (displacement, vibration modes and frequencies, static aeroelastic effectiveness and divergence, flutter) with respect to design variables have been derived. The design variables include the ply orientations of composite material, and the derivatives of generalized aerodynamic forces involve normal modes derivatives. These expressions have been checked in test cases and the resultant numerical values of sensitivity are in good agreement with values obtained using the difference approach. This analytical approach is successfully used in CAE sponsored structure optimization program systems.

Key words: directio nal stiffness, aero elastic t ailor ing, analy tical appr oach, sensitivit y