Aircraft Buffeting Load Determination via Semi-Empirical Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to accurately predict and measure the critical loads caused by buffeting on airplane structures, such as aerofoils, leading to potential damage and discomfort due to the lack of reliable stress prediction and awareness during flight.
Innovation Solution
A method involving trials in a wind tunnel using stationary and instationary pressure sensors and accelerometers to simulate burble conditions, determine flow burble areas, and integrate aerodynamic modeling to calculate overall stresses and moments, thereby determining critical loads through a semi-empirical approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buffeting occurs on airplane structure, then aerodynamic forces are generated causing vibrations, but this leads to fatigue and damage to the structure and discomfort for passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary identification of critical buffeting conditions through wind tunnel trials and aerodynamic modeling before actual flight operations. By determining critical loads and flight conditions in advance using a blowing unit and pressure sensors, the system enables pilots to avoid harmful conditions proactively, preventing structure fatigue and damage before they occur.
2Measurement precision
If critical loads are not accurately predicted, then design and pilot awareness are insufficient, but this leads to potential structure damage and passenger discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces purely empirical or simplified mechanical prediction methods with a sophisticated aerodynamic modeling system. By using aerodynamic models that simulate pressure fields and integrate them with wind tunnel measurement data, the system achieves accurate prediction of critical loads and buffeting conditions, enabling precise identification of dangerous flight regimes.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive stress calculation is performed considering all stress components, then accurate critical load determination is achieved, but this increases computational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the complex stress calculation into distinct components: aerodynamic stresses from pressure field integration, induced aerodynamic stresses from structure vibrations, inertia stresses, and damping stresses. By calculating each component separately and then combining them, the system achieves comprehensive and accurate stress determination while maintaining a manageable computational approach through modular processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a reliable and accurate determination of critical loads generated by buffeting on airplane structures, considering both natural flow instability and structure-induced stresses, enhancing design considerations and pilot awareness to avoid harmful flight conditions.
Implementation Method 1
carrying out, for such conditions, measurements using stationary pressure sensors, instationary pressure sensors and accelerometers arranged on said model
Implementation Method 2
an aerodynamic modelling is implemented for determining, using the measurements from steps a), in the burble areas as determined from step b), a pressure field resulting in the structure buffeting
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for determining critical buffeting loads on a structure of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises means (2, UC) implementing a semi-empirical method for determining the critical loads generated by some buffeting on the structure of the airplane.