Rib Spacing Optimization of a Generic UAV Wing to Increase the Aeroelastic Endurance

Abstract

Within the content of this research, it is aimed to optimize rib spacing of a generic UAV wing to maximize its flutter speed. Therefore, magnitude of the wing’s torsional frequency value and ratio of the torsional frequency to the first body bending frequency value are aimed to be maximized. To perform the optimization process, a parametric wing model is constructed via an in-house Python script. This script draws wing structure, defines material properties, assigns sections, constructs wing assembly, defines interactions, defines boundary conditions, prepares mesh structure and finally performs modal analysis in Abaqus finite element commercial software environment sequentially. Optimization process is accomplished by Mode Frontier optimization software. During the process Multi Objective Genetic Algorithm-2 solver is used. Finally, the optimum rib spacing value is determined for the wing structure.