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Optimization of the Compartment Layout in an Inflatable Airfoil
Journal
AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2022
Date Issued
2022-01-01
Author(s)
Mistri, Sohrab R.
Pant, Rajkumar S.
Guha, Anirban
Yerramalli, Chandra Sekher
Abstract
Inflatable wings are useful where storage space is a severe constraint for portable UAVs. Baffles needed for maintaining a specific shape after inflation divide the inflatable wing into a number of compartments. Literature review in the structural domain of inflatable wings reveals a lack of optimization of optimum number of compartments and their locations. This paper introduces a procedure to maximize the strength to weight ratio of an inflatable airfoil considering the lift induced loads, by optimizing the number of compartments and their locations. A hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is used for carrying out the optimization exercise. The proposed scheme is tested on three types of airfoils, viz., semi-symmetrical, under-cambered and symmetrical. The objective function is chosen such that the results of the optimization process are independent of the fabric material properties and the fabric thickness. It was found that there is a particular number of compartments that maximizes the strength to weight ratio. After choosing this value for the number of compartments, a further 2.5% improvement of strength to weight ratio was possible by optimizing the compartment locations. The procedures and results discussed in this paper should aid researchers in choosing the number of compartments of an inflatable airfoil in a structured approach.