Interdisciplinary Design Method for Actuation Load Determination of Actuation High-Lift Systems

Abstract

There is a strong need to investigate future aircraft high-lift systems in virtual as well as real test rigs. An investigation of innovative high-lift systems is only possible with integrated approaches of different disciplines involved in the aircraft design process. For this reason, an interdisciplinary design method for determination of actuator loads will be presented. Involved disciplines are aerodynamics and systems. The method will be applied to a future test rig for high-lift systems. Two different kinematic mechanisms will be modeled with the so-called “module method” for analyzing flap deployment and determination of actuation loads. Aerodynamic calculations of the pressure distributions, which are used for the air load calculations, are carried out with the panel method in the VSAERO software tool. The air loads will be the input for the calculation of the actuation loads, which constitute the basis for the dimensioning of the test rig components. A comparative study for flap movement and actuation loads is finally carried out for different mechanisms.