Glider - Aerospace Structures Course Project
Project Objectives/Constraints:
Design and build a working, optimal glider with everyday materials that can sustain a 2lb payload at each wingtip
The total cost of materials used in the glider must be $10 or less
Deliver analytical component that validates design geometry and material choice
Submit a quad chart that expresses design inspiration, cost breakdown, prototype data, and design challenges
Design
Inspired by the German-Italian Eta glider, the chosen design incorporated a teardrop fuselage, finely-tuned stringers, lightweight ribs, efficiency-boosting wingtips, a stabilizing tail, and a stiff paper skin (not pictured). All parts were designed to play to the strengths of additive manufacturing (low number of unique parts, topology optimization, etc).
FE Statics Analysis
Manual calculations — based in Solid Mechanics and Aerospace Structures theory — were performed to verify the geometry and material choices made in the design stage. Though not required, a full FE statics study was performed within SolidWorks Simulation to further validate the design.
Aerodynamic Simulations
Though not necessitated by the project objectives, a Computational Fluid Dynamics study was performed within SolidWorks Flow Simulation to validate the aerodynamic performance of the glider. Lift forces and pressure cut plots were generated for several angles of attack to investigate opportunities for improvement.
Topology Optimization
The design of several glider components, including the wing rib shown to the right, utilized topology optimization to increase weight efficiency. This design choice was made possible by choosing additive manufacturing as the primary fabrication process.