Justin Lee

Structural Analysis of Truss Braced Wing Design to Optimize Material Use

Started June 18, 2024

Abstract or project description

The truss-braced wing designs are revolutionary technologies that can improve aircraft efficiency to up to 30%. As the name states, the truss-braced wing design integrates a truss to support a more slender and extended wing. However, this complicates the structural analysis of the wing. This research project aims to optimize the wing's length, width, airfoil shape and truss to minimize the overall structural weight. During this research process, numerous tools like computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computer-aided design (CAD) and beam analysis software were used to test and refine the truss braced wing design. On top of this, key foundations were implemented, including beam bending equations, material properties and moment of inertia equations. This study highlights the importance of wing dimensions, airfoil shapes and materials used when creating an airplane. Throughout countless iterations and testing, the most suitable material and dimensions were found to result in a truss-braced wing design that significantly reduces structural weight.