REFINED STRUCTURAL MODELING FOR ENHANCING VIBRATIONAL AND AEROELASTICCHARACTERISTICS OF COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT WINGS

An analytical study, including tailoring of the vibrational and static aeroelastic response characteristics of anisotropic composite aircraf t wings in the form of thin-walled beams is presented. The theoretical analysis and numerical results encompass effects such as transverse s hear flexibility exhibited by the advanced composite materials, warpin g restraint characterizing cantilevered structures, elastic anisotropy and induced structural couplings. The complex effects of these factor s are highlighted and the power of the tailoring technique toward enha ncing the dynamic and static structural characteristics is demonstrate d.