Non-Linear Aeroelastic Simulation of a Complete Transport Aircraft

In this paper the approach developed in the Numerical Simulation group of EADS Military Aircraft (EADS-M) for the static and time-accurate non-linear aeroelastic simulation of a complete aircraft is described. Based on the A340 MSN1 test aircraft from the EC AWIATOR project (G4RD-CT-2002-00836) the methodologies and techniques that have been applied for an accurate prediction of the aircraft performance as well as of the shape deformation are presented. The aeroelastic approach is characterised by an iterative solution procedure where the aerodynamic forces and the corresponding structural displacements are exchanged between the disciplines until a converged state is obtained. This procedure is implemented into the EADS-M SimServer simulation system in which all relevant components such as the CFD solver, the CSM solver and the spatial coupling method are integrated closely. Comparisons to pure CFD simulations given at the end of the paper highlight the eciency of the presented approach.