Application of analytical and design tools for fighter wing aeroelastic tailoring

General Dynamics, Fort Worth Division, has been participating in the AGARD "Integrated Design, Analysis, and Optimization for Aircraft Structures" study to test and evaluate modern analysis and optimization tools. Specifically, wing analysis and design studies have been performed for the Validation of Aeroelastic Tailoring (VAT) configuration. The VAT represents a series of static and dynamic wind tunnel tests, performed under United States Air Force contract in the 19701s, to verify the beneficial use of aeroelastic tailoring for fighter aircraft wing design. The VAT provides a useful database for evaluation of various aeroelastic methodologies. Static analysis predictions for ELAPS, a Ritz structural analysis code, are c ~ m p a r e d to the VAT results, with excellent agreement. ASTROS, a new multidisciplinary, finite element optimization code, is also used for static and dynamic analyses of the VAT. The results demonstrate several analysis capabilities of ASTROS. The composite wing skin of the VAT is also optimized by ASTROS for strength and displacement constraints simulating aeroelastic loads. ASTROS was able to design the composite skin to achieve desired twist and camber deformation behavior. ASTROS is thus a viable tool for aeroelastic tailoring design.