Study of Structural Design Concepts for small-scale Aircraft using low-cost Manufacturing Techniques

Abstract

Research on structural design concepts and structural optimization for aerospace vehicles typically focuses on large vehicles produced by major aerospace companies. However, the results are aoften of only limited benefit for SMEs or startup companies, that are developing drones or small-scale flight demonstrastors. Such companies typically lack the sophisticated analysis/optimization software and manufacturing capabilities that are available at larger companies form producing high-performance structural components. Moreover, SMEs and startups typically operate under a higher budget and timing pressure. In consequence, the optima for low-weight/low-cost manufactoring of large vehicle structures produced by SMEs/startups. Therefore, this thesis will investigate diffenrent structural design and material concepts for small-scalre vehicles when usind simple manufactoring techniques. This covers analysis and simulation, as well as manufacturing and mechanical testing of selected and representative structural components. The figuers of merit of this trade-off study are to be investigated on a quantitative basis, and include structural mass for a given load, manufacturing costs and manufacturing time. The focus of the study is placed on flight vehicles with low aspect-ratios, a representative of high-performance aircraft geometrics, and glass/carbon fibre reinforced composite materials.