CFD RESEARCH CORPORATION — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF161-069

Description

ABSTRACT: Aircraft structure aging and life prediction require accurate prognosis of the dynamic loads and stress spectra as well as aircraft structure dynamic response leading to fatigue damage. CFDRC proposes to develop an ultra-efficient physics-based computational aeroservoelasticity Reduced Order Models (ROM) for real-time prediction and simulation of aircraft dynamic loads, stress spectra and fatigue damage. The distinguishing factors of the proposed effort are; (1) physics-based loads and stresses prediction tools, (2) nonlinear ROM techniques to address strong nonlinearity in maneuvering aircraft while retaining low model dimensions and ultra-fast simulation speed, and (3) rigorous orthogonality constraint approach for ROM parameterization for enhanced identification of triggering parameters of stress concentration and crack. Phase I will focus on adaptation of high-fidelity computational technologies for quantifying the dynamic aeroelastic loads and stress spectra, development of nonlinear ROM for both aerodynamics loads and structural responses, and feasibility study to quantify dynamic loads and stress spectra for a generic fighter aircraft model. Phase II focus will be on development and integration of fatigue and damage tolerance analysis tools, complete developments of the ROM platform; including ROM automation, parameterization, software optimization, extensive verification and validation of the tools, and software integration with AFRL-relevant tools for damage tolerance analysis.; BENEFIT: The proposed nonlinear reduced order model aeroservoelasticity framework will provide accurate and ultra efficient tool to characterize aircraft aging and fatigue damage. The tool will have direct and significant impact on reliability and safety procedures of aircraft aging programs. Direct Air Force applications of the technology are in aircraft maintenance and inspection programs. The potential primary customers include aircraft, rotorcraft and other space vehicles service life expansion programs for DOD and their prime contractors. Potential commercial applications include rotorcraft civil transport life prediction and accident investigation by FAA and aircraft manufacturers, micro-electronical-mechanical systems (MEMS), propulsion systems, microfluidic, and others.