Aeroelastic-tailoring of a wind-tunnel model for passive alleviation of static and dynamic loads

Composite materials allow to tailor the elastic properties of a structure. In aeroelasticity, this opens up the possibility to passively enhance the coupled aerostructural characteristics. In this work, the design of a composite wing is addressed with the aim to alleviate static and dynamic aeroelastic loads; these two objectives are quantified by the root-bending-moment in a high load-factor condition and the deformation amplitude of the wing under gust. A two-step approach of the optimal design of the structure is adopted. A Pareto front is computed via an aeroelastic model of the wing; the aerodynamic loads are modelled, depending on the load-case, either via the DLM or the RANS equations. The best-compromise design is chosen via a criterion based on the jig-shape and, finally, the stacking-sequences are computed via a specialised evolutionary algorithm.