• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.93-123
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• 2014

A variational asymptotic composite beam model has been developed for thermoelastic analysis. Composite beams, including sandwich structure and laminates, under different boundary conditions are examined. Previously developed beam model, which is based on variational-asymptotic method, is extended to incorporate temperature-dependent materials experiencing large temperature changes. The recovery relations have been derived so that the temperatures, heat fluxes, stresses, and strains can be recovered over the cross-section. The present theory is implemented into the computer program VABS (Variational Asymptotic Beam Sectional analysis). Numerical results are compared with the 3D analysis for the purpose of demonstrating advantages of the present theory and use of VABS.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

The three-dimensional finite element modeling of a composite rotor blade is very hard and requires much computation effort. The efficient method to model a composite beam is necessary for the dynamic and aeroelastic analyses of rotor blades. In this study, the beam modeling method of a composite rotor blade is studied using VABS. The computer program, VABS (Variational Asymptotic Beam Section Analysis), uses the variational asymptotic method to split a 3-D nonlinear elasticity problem into 2-D cross-sectional analysis and 1-D nonlinear beam problem. The VABS can produce the sectional stiffness coefficients of composite rotor blades with various cross section and initial twist/curvatures, and recover the original 3-D distribution of displacement/strain/stress fields. The results of various cross section beams show that VABS gives us the accurate results comparared to commercial codes and does not need much computation effort. It can be concluded that VABS provides the efficient method to establish the FE model of a composite rotor blade.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.26-31
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• 2007

This paper addresses a method for structural optimum design of composite rotor blade. The basic model of a composite helicopter main rotor blade is designed and its parameters determining the structural/dynamic properties are studied. Through the investigation of flap/lag/torsional stiffness, the structural properties of the model are analyzed. In this study, helicopter rotor blades are analyzed by using VABS. The computer program VABS (Variational Asymptotic Beam Section Analysis) uses the variational asymptotic method to split a three-dimensional nonlinear elasticity problem into a two dimensional cross-sectional analysis and a one-dimensional nonlinear beam problem. This is accomplished by taking advantage of certain small parameters inherent to beam-like structures. In addition, the rotational stability of the blade is estimated by the frequency diagram from FE analysis(MSC.Patran/Nastran) to understand its vibrational property. From the result, design parameters to determine and optimize the properties of the model are presented.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2019

Human-powered aircraft has wings with a shape of high aspect ratio which results in large bending displacement. This paper aims to improve the structural limitation by changing an incidence angle of the wings. The tendency change of bending displacement at the wing tip is observed assuming that airfoil and cross-sectional shape of the wing is fixed, and amount of the total lift generated is satisfied. Quasi-steady lift, drag and the aerodynamic moment are distributed with regard to sections of the wing. Those are analyzed using a numerical nonlinear lifting-line method and 'geometrically exact beam' (GEB) program in EDISON. 'Variational Asymptotic Beam Sectional Analysis' (VABS) program is used to check if the present wing is structurally solid. Furthermore, the predicted tip deflections are verified by comparing with DYMORE.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.183-190
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• 2018

This paper presents optimization of the main spar of Human-Powered Aircraft (HPA) wing. Mass minimization was attempted, while considering large torsional deformation of the beam. Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) method was adopted as a relevant tool to conduct structural optimization algorithm. An inner diameter and ply thicknesses of the main spar were selected as the design variables. The objective function includes factors such as mass minimization, constant tip bending displacement, and constant tip twist of the beam. For estimation of bending and torsional deformation, the geometrically exact beam model, which is appropriate for large deflection, was adopted. Properties of the cross sectional area which the geometrically exact beam model requires were obtained by Variational Asymptotic Beam Sectional Analysis (VABS), which is a cross sectional analysis program. As a result, maintaining tip bending displacement and tip twist within 1.45%, optimal design that accomplished 7.88% of the mass reduction was acquired. By the stress and strain recovery, structural integrity of the optimal design and validity of the present optimization procedure were authenticated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.539-547
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• 2021

Helicopter rotor blade is required to be designed by considering the interacting effects among aerodynamics, flexibility, and controllability. The reverse design allows the structural components to have common characteristics by using the configuration numerics and experimental results. This paper aims to design the composite rotor blade which will feature common characteristics with that of BO-105. The present engineering design procedure is done by dividing the rotor blade into a few sections and composite laminates across the cross section. For each section, variational asymptotic beam sectional analysis (VABS) program is used to evaluate its flapwise, lagwise, and torsion stiffnesses to have discrepancy smaller than certain tolerance. Finally, CAMRAD II is used to predict the stress acting on the rotor blade during the specific flight condition and to check whether the present deign is structurally valid.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2013

In this paper, the structural optimum design method of composite rotor blade cross-section was investigated with the genetic algorithm. An auto-mesh generation program was developed for iterative calculations of optimum design, and stresses in the blade cross-section were analyzed by VABS (variational asymptotic beam sectional analysis) program. Minimum mass of rotor blade was defined as an object function, and stress failure index, center mass and blade minimum mass per unit length were chosen as constraints. Finally, design parameters such as the thickness and layup angles of a skin, and the thickness, position and width of a torsion box were determined through the structural optimum design method of composite rotor blade cross-section presented in this paper.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.7-14
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• 2013

In this paper, the optimal design of composite rotor blade cross-section is performed using a genetic algorithm. Skin thickness, torsion box thickness and skin lay-up angle are adopted as discrete design variables. The position and width of a torsion box are considered as continuous variables. An object function of optimal design is to minimize the mass of a rotor blade, and constraints are failure index, center mass, natural frequency and blade minimum mass per unit length. Finally, design variables such as the thickness and lay-up angles of a skin, and the thickness, position and width of a torsion box are determined by using an in-house program developed for the optimal design of rotor blade cross-section.