Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The proposed research program aims to develop a comprehensive virtual multidisciplinary stick-to-stress design optimization framework for the synthesis of novel and energy efficient aircraft configurations. SAVANT proposes to combine flight dynamic models and nonlinear aeroelastic solvers based on aerodynamic reduced order models (ROM) to generate ""in real-time"" loads and stresses resulting from pilot input commands. Critical load identification methods and reduced order modelling techniques will potentially provide a step change in the efficiency and accuracy of the dynamic aeroelastic loads process. Identifying the flight conditions that lead to the maximum loads on aircraft structures and introducing higher fidelity methods at these conditions will reduce the cost and turn around time of the loads process of conventional aircraft. In addition, innovative designs required for greening aircraft can be evaluated more rapidly and at lower risk. Reduced order modelling techniques also offer the accuracy of high fidelity methods at a cost close to that of the current low fidelity methods. As a result, the proposed framework will be a high fidelity, multidisciplinary and real time analysis and optimization tool where the aerodynamics, structures, propulsion and control system dynamics are tightly coupled together to provide a virtual flight test capability. It can be employed to accurately predict aircraft loads and stresses for improved fatigue life and mitigate the cost of solving flight test related problems. The simulation framework will also be used for control law design, maneuvering flight simulation and handling quality assessment with the inclusion of nonlinear aeroelastic effects for high aspect ratio wings. The computational tools and processes developed will be validated and evaluated through a rigorous flight test program based on low cost flight test demonstrator models. The SAVANT design framework will be a valuable tool to design novel civil transportation aircraft and current and future Meggitt Training Systems Canada Unmanned Air Vehicles and will lead to a reduction of flight tests necessary for certification.