A computational aeroelastic framework based on high-order structural models and high-fidelity aerodynamics

A computational framework for high-fidelity static aeroelastic analysis is presented. Aeroelastic analysis traditionally employs a beam stick representation for the structure and potential, inviscid and irrotational flow assumptions for the aerodynamics. The unique contribution of this work is the introduction of a high-order structural formulation coupled with a high-fidelity method for the aerodynamics. In more details, the Carrera Unified Formulation coupled with the Finite Element Method is implemented to model geometrically complex composite, laminated structures as equivalent bi-dimensional plates. The open-source software SU2 is then used for the solution of the aerodynamic fields. T…