Jonathan E. Cooper

TL;DR: The manufacture of a composite FishBAC equipped NACA 23012 wing section is described, and experimental characterisation of its actuators, the materials and the structural response under actuation loads are presented.

TL;DR: The efficiency and scope of aeroelastic wing optimization strategies can be increased using analysis-specific structural idealizations, such as high-fidelity models for detailed stress analyses and detailed cost-effectiveness analyses.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the feasibility of applying Variance Based Sensitivity Analysis (VBSA) methods to the safe-life design process using a landing gear case study and the SAF toolbox.

Abstract: In collaboration with Airbus-UK, the dimensional growth of small panels while being riveted with stiffeners is investigated. The stiffeners have been fastened to the panels with rivets and it has been observed that during this operation the panels expand in the longitudinal and transverse directions. It has been observed that the growth is variable and the challenge is to control the riveting process to minimize this variability. In this investigation, the assembly of the small panels and longitudinal stiffeners has been simulated using low and high fidelity nonlinear finite element models. The models have been validated against a limited set of experimental measurements; it was found that more accurate predictions of the riveting process are achieved using high fidelity explicit finite element models. Furthermore, through a series of numerical simulations and probabilistic analyses, the manufacturing process control parameters that influence panel growth have been identified. Alternative fastening approaches were examined and it was found that dimensional growth can be controlled by changing the design of the dies used for forming the rivets.