Aerostructural Assessment Approach of a Transonic Morphing Wing in 3DExperience

Abstract

The implementation of morphing wings technology has the potential to significantly improve aircraft performance. However, due to the complex interplay between aerodynamics and structural integrity, it requires an aerostructural analysis. 3DExperience by Dassault Systèmes is a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) - based software with integrated structural and aerodynamic analysis tools. This software was employed to establish a methodology for conducting one-way aerostructural analysis of morphing trailing edge wings on a transonic transport aircraft. The methodology highlights the benefits of CAD-based modelling and the coupling between the aerodynamic and structural models. Nevertheless, the aerodynamic analysis results were affected by a node limit and the meshing options. Finally, a high-lift and an aerodynamically efficient test case were utilised to compare the impact of the trailing edge morphing to that of an unmorphed wing.