Graphite-epoxy Composite Design for Aircrcaft Wing Spar Using Computational Techniques – Part I

AKINDAPO Jacob Olaitan^1, , JOHNSON-ANAMEMENA Nnaemeka¹ and GARBA Danladi King¹

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna – Nigeria

Cite this paper:
AKINDAPO Jacob Olaitan, JOHNSON-ANAMEMENA Nnaemeka and GARBA Danladi King. Graphite-epoxy Composite Design for Aircrcaft Wing Spar Using Computational Techniques – Part I. American Journal of Mechanical Engineering. 2017; 5(4):117-127. doi: 10.12691/ajme-5-4-2

Abstract

This research work investigates graphite-epoxy design for light weight high performance structure of an aircraft wing spar using computational techniques. MATLAB MuPAD software was used to derive analytical models for the aircraft wing loads using symbolic computation to estimate shear and bending moment forces acting on the wings while ANSYS 14 Mechanical APDL software was used to design and analyze the modeled composite structures of the wing spar. To carry out progressive failure analyses of the various graphite-epoxy composite wing spar designs under bending moment, finite element analysis with ANSYS 14 Mechanical APDL software was employed to determine which spar design would best withstand the bending moment of 10,000Nm generated from the MATLAB MuPAD software. The investigation revealed that all the three designs of Low Modulus (LM) spar, High Modulus (HM) spar and Ultra Modulus (UM) spar failed at 16,801.8 N/m² which is above the wing bending moment with ultra-modulus spar having the least deflection of 0.143 m because of its high stiffness property.

Keywords:
aircraft wing spar computational technique Finite Element Analysis (FEA) graphite-epoxy design shear force and bending moment

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	ANSYS, Inc., (2013); “ANSYS Mechanical APDL Structural Analysis Guide,” vol. Release 15, pp. 435-447.
[2]	Carl Zweben. Wiley Online Library (COMPOSITE MATERIALS). [Online]. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118985960.meh110/pdf. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
[3]	Dan Doherty, “Toolbox, Analytical Modeling of Aircraft Wing Loads Using MATLAB and Symbolic Math”. [Online]. https://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/analytical-modeling-of-aircraft-wing-loads-using-matlab-and-symbolic-math-toolbox.html. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
[4]	Dynamic Flight, Inc., “Airfoil in General”. [Online]. http://www.dynamicflight.com/aerodynamics/airfoils/. Retrieved on September 30, 2016.
[5]	Ithurbure R.P., (1999); “Design of the Wing of a Regional Airliner in Composite Materials,” Delft University of Aerospace Engineering, Delft, Memorandum-864.
[6]	Jeff Scott, “Aerospaceweb.org”. [Online]. http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/airfoils/q0041.shtml. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
[7]	Khurmi R.S. and Gupta J.K., (2008); “A Textbook of Machine Design”, 4th ed., New Delhi, India: S. Chand & Company Ltd.
[8]	Mohamed H. A. and Nithiyakalyani S., (2014); “Design and Structural Analysis of the Ribs and Spars of Swept,” International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, vol. 4, no. 12, pp. 208-213.
[9]	Myer K., (2002); “Handbook of Materials Selection”. New York, United States of America: John Wiley and Son.
[10]	National Academy of Engineering, “Link Engineering Web site”. [Online]. http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3817. Retrieved on November 6, 2015.
[11]	Roy Beardmore, “Roymechx”. [Online]. http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Beams/Beam_theory.html. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
[12]	Tim P. and Bernadette B.V., (2015); The Dibner Institute for History of Science and Technology Web site. [Online]. http://authors.library.caltech.edu/5456/1/hrst.mit.edu/hrs/materials/public/composites/Composites_Overview.htm. Retrieved on November 6, 2015.
[13]	Victor D. and Bikramjit D., (2014); “Deflection and Stress Analysis of a Beam on Different Elements Using ANSYS APDL,” International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 70-79.
[14]	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), “A Patent that Changed an Industry”. [Online]. http://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=2909. Retrieved on September 15, 2015.