Matlab Based Software for Aircraft Structural Analysis and Design
Saad Anjum Shoaib Bilal
Department of Aerospace Engineering Department of Aerospace Engineering
Institute of Space and Technology Institute of Space and Technology
Islamabad, Pakistan Islamabad, Pakistan
Saaadanjum274@[Link] Shoaibbilal101@[Link]
calculations rather than going to the lengthy procedures thus
reducing the workload and time.
Abstract—As the world is progressing day by day use of This AAD software is basically related to aircraft
computers and other software’s are playing an important role structure. It is based on technique known as structural
in every field of study and making complex thing easy to idealization. For the calculation of bending and shear stresses
handle. Use of new advanced software’s has brought the on the wings we have to do the lengthy calculations so all
revolutionary change in the field of science and technology. these formulas is integrated in this software to calculate these
Work related to aircraft structure and preliminary analysis
stresses. Matlab is used for this purpose because this
and design is going on in Pac Kamra so it was needed to have
software which will do the task of preliminary design in few
programming language is good in handling these
minutes. Also this kind of software was needed to be developed mathematical equations. In matlab we can easily create the
to help undergraduate students at IST to learn concepts and graphical user interface in a very simple way which would
develop insight related to aircraft structure analysis and be very easy to understand for the users.
design. This AAD software can help Professors to solve the
problems related to aircraft structure with just few clicks. In
the light of all these requirements authors have developed a
AAD (Aero Structure Analysis and Design) software which will A. Selection of programming language
do the preliminary design calculation which are very helpful Matlab is used for the coding to develop this software
for the industry also this software will help student and tool. In matlab we can easily test the algorithms without
professors for the study purpose and solving the lengthy recompilation. We type something in the command line and
problems. Software will idealize the structure to calculate the see the results quickly so this language greatly facilitates the
bending and shear stresses for given loading. Programming algorithm development. Matlab desktop environment allow
language used will be Matlab because of its simplicity and user us to work interactively with our data so it help to keep track
friendly interface. of files and simplifies the common programming task. Major
benefits of using matlab is the user friendly graphical user
Keywords-component; Matlab software, Bending stresses,
interface and its ability to handle complex mathematical
Shear Stresses,Wing,Analysis.
equations.
I. INTRODUCTION
B. AAD Objectives
We are living in the computer Era and now companies
and research firms are using new concepts and software’s to This software tool was developed by keeping in mind
achieve there aims and goals. People feel it easy to use many objectives. Main objectives will be discussed in this
developed software’s which help solve their problems rather section. Main purpose of using this software tool is to help
than doing the complex calculation on pages again and the people working in the aircraft industry in their
again. It is needed that theoretical concepts should be preliminary design of aircraft. Aircraft industries would
integrated into software. Software reduces the workload of prefer this software tool over the excel sheets for doing the
the companies and universities and also save much of their calculations. In universities this software will help student
time. Aim of this paper is to describe about the tool which and professors to solve the problems related to aircraft
will be able to resolve all the following issues. It was the structure and make analysis by seeing the results so in this
need of the time that this kind of software should be way students will get familiar with modern computational
developed which will help the students and professors in techniques. It is developed with as much user friendly
there learning, teaching and training purposes. Aircraft interface as possible so anyone can use this tool easily with
industries like Kamra are using the excel sheets to do the little knowledge covering all the aspects. This software tool
calculation of preliminary design of aircraft and those sheets gives the multiple options to the user of skin analysis and
are rather complex and do not offer much flexibility so this skin stringer analysis, quick analysis, detailed analysis. Users
software tool is developed for the preliminary design don’t need to worry about importing the aircraft coordinates
to make the airfoil. Users just need to give thickness to chord in the aircraft industries. These software’s take too much
ratio and airfoil is developed. AAD software tool display the time to do the complete detailed analysis. Engineers and
result step wise along with graphical demonstration of the students using this software are unable to know the
results which would be very easy to comprehend. underlying concepts because of the complexities of these
software tools but AAD software tool can do the preliminary
C. AAD aplications design analysis of the aircraft in few minutes and also this
This software tool is developed with wide range of tool is based on the basic theories and formulas given in the
applications. books [1], [2]. Brief introduction will be discussed in the
This software tool will be capable to do the analysis following paragraphs.
of rectangular wings covering NACA four digit
symmetrical and unsymmetrical airfoils. A. Airfoil Modeling
It covers the airfoil modeling for the development In this AAD software tool both the symmetrical and
of wing. unsymmetrical airfoils are modeled for the rectangular wing
This software tool enables us to do the structural aircraft. This software give ease to the user that we don’t
idealization of the wing and finding the need to import the aircraft coordinates and the airfoil is
crossectional properties, centroid and location of developed. In symmetrical airfoil we just need to give the
neutral axis. thickness to chord ratio and the chord length while for
This tool enables us to calculate the bending and unsymmetrical type airfoil user also need to enter the
shear stresses at any given crossection of the wing. location of maximum camber along with the thickness to
Shear flows are obtained which then divided by chord ratio. Theoretical concepts and the equation were
thickness to get the shear stress. considered from the book [5]. Following equation were used
User can see how stresses are affected by the to plot the airfoil in the AAD software tool.
application of stringers on the wing skin. Equation for the symmetrical airfoil is given as:
D. Development streak of AAD
This software tool is developed by the following
sequence. Firstly basic concepts were made from the course
material [1], [2] . Then it is learned how to make the
graphical user interface and do the coding in the matlab
software [3]. Theoretical concepts learned [1], [2], [4] are Where t= thickness to chord ratio.
applied in matlab programming and graphical user interfaces In this formula last value is modified to be
are developed. Finally after doing the complete coding because we have the close trailing edge. Now formula
standalone application is made so that it can work on any considered to plot the asymmetrical airfoil is given as under:
computer by downloading some files.
E. Considered Assumption
(2)
Some important assumptions were made before doing the
calculation on this AAD software tool. If someone has to use
this software then he should kept in mind these assumptions (3)
which are listed as follows.
Direct stress is constant over the stringer Here in this equation
crossection. m= maximum ordinate of mean line expressed as a function
Direct stresses are carried by the boom while the of chord.
skin is effective only in shear. P=chord wise position of maximum ordinate
Crossection remain crossection after applying the
load. Asymmetrical airfoils are used on most of the aircraft
Span of the wing do not change. because of the fact that these airfoils can generate the lift
even at the zero angle of attack.
Material is considered as isotropic and homogenous
and it obeys the hooks law.
Load applied remain in the elastic limit. B. Idealization of aircraft structure
We have idealized the wing panel into the direct stress carry
booms and shear stress carrying skin. Structural analysis is
greatly simplified using the technique of idealization. If we
II. THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF AAD have the different loading conditions then we have the
different idealization for the same structure. Consider a
Finite element method analysis is being used in Ansys straight panel as shown in “Fig.1” having a thickness (t) and
and Nastran software to do the structural analysis of the the length (b). This straight panel is idealized into shear
aircraft. This software is widely used by the people working
stress carrying skin and two direct stress carrying boom and in case unsymmetrical airfoils equation (7) will serve
“fig.2” whose area will is calculated using the formula: the purpose. Firstly the position of neutral axis is calculated
[1] using the formula;
(4)
(5)
(9)
(6) Neutral axis always passes through the centroid of the
crossection but its inclination depends on the geometrical
Boom areas are calculated in the analysis part neutral properties of the section. Our software tool AAD plot the
axis position is determined and crossectional properties are neutral axis and then from the given loading conditions
calculated. Centroid of the crossection is also determined. If calculate the bending and shear stresses on the at the required
the body has two axis of symmetry then centroid is that point section.
in the airfoil section where the two axes intersect and it is
usually the case for unsymmetrical airfoils. Firstly the E. Shear Stress Analysis
position of neutral axis is calculated [1] using the formula; We have studied different method to calculate the shear
C. Stress Analysis stresses out of which direct method is selected to calculate
the shear stresses. We don’t need to calculate the shear center
After doing the structural idealization stresses are for that matter. Method used to calculate the shear stresses
calculated at any section of the wing and are then compared for the symmetrical and asymmetrical crossection is
with the yield stresses if the stresses calculated exceed the consulted from the book [1], [2] and the formula used is
yield stresses of the material then the structure would fail stated as under:
completely which is unavoidable in any circumstances. This
AAD software tool will calculate the bending and shear
stresses any section of the wing using the equations given in
[1], we are not considering the deformation of the wing
structure at this stage.
1) Loading conditions: We have to apply the certain
loads then we will obtain the bending and shear stressses at (10)
any crossection of the wing. We are not doing the
aerodynamic analysis at this stage. User will b given the This is the formula use to calculate the shear stresses for
option to input the value of conentrated lift and drag also the symmetrical wings quantity become zero and the
user will be ask to determine the section position where he terms in the formula will be reduced. Direct method is used
need to calculate these stresses. Wing will be treated as a to calculate the shear stresses in which firstly crossectional
cantilever beam. After giving these values in input user will properties and boom areas are calculated. After that cut is
be able to see the bending and shear stresses at any section of made and shear flow is assume to be zero at that point and
the wing. preliminary shear flows are calculated using the equation.
Moment is taken along the line of action of shear load and
D. Bending Stress Analysis axis of symmetry. Value of shear flow obtained is added in
In bending stress analysis part user give the input in the all the equation to get the final shear flow. Shear flow when
form of concentrated lift and drag due to which a bending divided by thickness gives the final shear stress on the
moment is developed which leads to the bending stresses. section of the wing.
Theoretical concepts were developed from the books [1], [2] III. APPLICATION OF STRINGERS
formula used to calculate the bending stress for the
symmetrical and unsymmetrical airfoil is stated as under In aircraft construction stringer is a thin strip of material
to which the skin of wing is fastened. Primary function of the
stringers is to transfer the bending load acting on the wing to
the ribs and spars of the aircraft wing. First of all using the
(7) AAD software tool bending and shear stresses are calculated
on the wing skin. Large values of bending and shear stresses
are obtained. This AAD software tool will give the option to
(8) the user to apply the stringers on the wing skin.
After the application of stringers boom areas are
calculated again, crossectional properties changes which
Bending stresses are calculated using this formula. In case
result in the change of centroid and bending shear stresses
of symmetrical airfoils where is considered to be zero are calculated again at any section of the wing. Our
Equation (8) will be use to calculate the bending stressses developed AAD software tool will ask user about the stringer
location in term of boom no and the stringer area. When
these values are given our software tool will calculate the
bending and shear stresses again with just a one click. User It can be analysed by the folowing results that the bending
can easily analyzed that after the application of stringers on stresses on the wing skin are greatly reduced by the
the wing skin bending stresses will be greatly reduced. application of stringers.
Values will be given in result portion discussed further.
Shear stress on any boom no can be seen by entering the
value of that boom no. Identify the Headings V. ORGANIZATION OF AAD
IV. RESULTS Flow chart of the organization chart is given in the “fig.5”
Our AAD software tool calculate the bending and shear Our AAD software tool is able to perform calculations and it
stresses on any section of the wings. User need to input some follows the following scheme.
values. In order to do the analysis we enter the following A. External Organization Structure
values given in the table (1).
1) Symmetrical Wing Analysis
TABLE I. a) Quick wing skin analysis
INPUT VALUES
b) Quick wing skin stringer analysis
Input Parameters Values c) Detailed skin analysis
d) Detailed skin stringer analysis
Weight of the aircarft 8004N
2) Asymmetrical Wing analysis
Lift force 4002N a) Quick wing skin analysis
Thickness to chord ratio 0.12m b) Quick wing skin stringer analysis
c) Detailed skin analysis
Half of the wing span 5.245m
d) Detailed skin stringer analysis
Chord length 1.52m
B. Internal Organizational structure
Skin thickness 0.002 1) Quick Analysis
All inputs in one GUI
Stringer area 0.008
All outputs in the other GUI
After giving the input values our AAD software tool will
calculate the bending and Shear stresses. After the 2) Detailed Analysis
applications of stringers on the wing skin bending stresses Modeling of airfoil
will be greatly reduced. Results are shown in “fig.3” “fig.4” Idealization
and “fig.5”. Comparison of results before and after applying Application of loads
the stringers on the wing skin is given in table below. Stress analysis
Application of stringers
TABLE II.
COMPARISON OF RESULTS Stress analysis
Parameters Values before Vales after applying In the quick wing analysis module user give all the input
Applying Stringers the stringers in one window and get the results in the other window
Maximum Normal immediately. If user want to go step and step and want to
stress 6.94259e+07 3.36639e+07 analyze the structure then he should do the detailed analysis
in which our AAD software tool will proceed step wise.
Minimum Normal
stress -6.22375e+07 -3.08768e+07
Maximum shear stress VI. CONCLUSION
8.11786e+06 8.45393e+06
In this paper we have presented our AAD software tool
Minimum shear stress which is very helpful for the engineers to do the preliminary
64951.1 62780.1
design calculations also it can be used by university students
Normal stress boom10 to do the structural analyses and analyses. It was needed that
-5.53391e+07 -2.74989e+07 some software tool should be developed to handle the
Shear stress boom 25 mathematical equation and solve lengthy problems in just
285181 1.04166e+06 few clicks; moreover students will get to know about the
computational aspects of the course due to which there analysis of the aircraft it can further be modified to include
learning would be enhanced. other parameters so it will have vast applications.
GUI is developed to handle the large amount of data in
one window and also giving the outputs in another window. VII. REFERENCES
This interface used is really simple and user friendly. Coding
is done on Matlab because it is good in handling the complex [1] “Aircarft Structure for Engineering Students” by T.H.G Megson
mathematical equations and problems. We have not given the
cod in this paper due to limitation of space. Code written is [2] “Fundaments of Aircraft Structure Analysis” by Howard D. Curtis
verified by solving the problem of the books and matching
the results. This software is just the start of the structural [3] Rivello, Robert M.,”Theory and analysis of Flight Structure”,
McGraw-Hill,1969
Fig.1: Structural Idealization
Fig.2: External Organization Chart
Fig.4: Main Interface Window
Fig.3: Internal Organization Chart
Fig.5: Airfoil Modeling
Fig.6: Idealization of Wing Skin
Fig.7: Calculation of Bending and Shear Stresses
Fig.8: Stringer Analysis
