Optimised Design of Composite Wings Combining Aeroelastically Tailored Skins with Curved Internal Structures

In partnership with Embraer under the IILF scheme, this new PhD project will explore how to optimize aircraft wing designs through the combination of curvilinear internal structures (spars / ribs and stringers) with tailored skins (both uni-directional and tow-steered). The effect of uncertainties in material properties and the manufacturing process will be considered, developing a robust / reliability based optimisation procedure taking into account structural and aeroelastic constraints. The study will be part of a contribution towards the overall goal of developing new fuel-efficient wing designs that exploit aeroelastic coupling to optimize the aerodynamic shape whilst reducing loads due to turbulence and manoeuvres.

This 3.5 - year research project will be jointly supervised by academic (Prof J E Cooper and Dr A Pirerra from the Dept of Aerospace Engineering) and industrial supervisors from Embraer. It is an excellent opportunity to develop fundamental and industrially relevant research whilst participating in the collaboration between world leading research teams in aeroelasticity and composites at the University of Bristol and a well-known aircraft manufacturer.