Title: Manoeuvre load alleviation using multi-objective optimisation for combat aircraft wing

Authors: P.S. Suresh, G. Radhakrishnan, K. Shankar

Addresses: Airframe Directorate, Aeronautical Development Agency, P.B. No: 1718, Vimanapura Post, Bengaluru – 560 017, India. ' Airframe Directorate, Aeronautical Development Agency, P.B. No: 1718, Vimanapura Post, Bengaluru – 560 017, India. ' Machine Design Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai – 600 036, India

Abstract: The focus of the paper is to present the systematic approach for manoeuvre load alleviation (MLA) problem with multi-objective formulation and optimisation methods. MLA is a subset of active control technology (ACT) and deals with optimal rotation of control surfaces to effectively redistribute the forces on airframe. The mathematical model consists of flight control parameters as design variables, bending and twisting moment at the wing root as multiple independent conflicting fitness functions along with aircraft stability equations as equality constraints. By and large this MLA problem is addressed as single objective optimisation. The present work emphasises multi-objective problem formulation and presents the population based NSGA-II of multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) as solution method. Symmetric manoeuvres with vertical acceleration load cases are optimised. The approach presented provides significant reduction of wing root bending and twisting moment through optimal ELEVator and aileron (ELEVON) rotations.

Keywords: manoeuvre load alleviation; active control technology; ACT; manoeuvre load envelope; multi-objective optimisation; genetic algorithms; NSGA-II; optimal rotation; control surfaces; force redistribution; airframes; mathematical modelling; flight control; bending moment; twisting moment; wing root; aircraft stability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2010.034864

International Journal of Design Engineering, 2010 Vol.3 No.2, pp.195 - 214

Published online: 25 Aug 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article