Modeling of Rotorcraft Fuselage Cut-Outs using Preliminary Design Tools

Abstract

Every aircraft fuselage has cut-outs due to many reasons. Some of those cut-outs feature non-load-carrying covers respectively doors. In those cases the surrounding structure carries the load. This circumstance leads to structural reinforcements around the cut-outs which in turn lead to a stiffness (re-)distribution which must be taken into account for proper structural analysis. This report refers to the modeling and analysis tools on the preliminary aircraft design team of DLR-BT. The definition of cut-outs in CPACS is explained and how the generation of the cut-outs was implemented in the modeling tools FDESIGN and ROFUMA. Examples of both, definition and generation of cut-outs are shown and current limitations of the methodologies are mentioned.