Topology Optimization for Manufacturable Configuration Design of Aircraft Tail Rib

A methodology is implemented to find the optimum reduced weight configuration design of an operating structure of a civil aircraft vertical tail fin. FE （finite element） based topology optimization is executed to find the optimum material distribution of initial design space of rib by maximizing the stiffness. Loads pertinent to the operating and ground conditions are estimated and applied, considering the orientation of structural assembly members and built-in supports offered in the main structure. Manufacturing constraints are incorporated into the optimization loop to generate pragmatic and manufacturable design configuration. The topologically optimized configuration is then converted to CAD viable design through data reduction and smoothing by converting to ISO-surfaces. A methodology is also devised to modify the topological optimized voids and material layout precisely with splines and fillets to construct manufacturable features and avoid stress concentrations. The resulting novel design proposal is then analyzed and validated against stipulated loads, constraints and other design needs. Results validate the new design proposal as more reliable, having reduced weight and enhanced structural performance.

Robust sliding mode control with ESO for dual-control missile

This paper proposes a novel composite dual-control bycombing the integral sliding mode control （ISMC） method basedon the finite time convergence theory with extended state observer（ESO） for a tracking problem of a missile with tail fins and reactionjetcontrol system （RCS）. First, the ISMC method based on finitetime convergence is utilized to design the control law of tail fins andthe pulse control of RCS for the dual-control system, ensuring thesystem with rapid response and high accuracy of tracking. Then,ESO is employed for the estimation of aerodynamic disturbancesinfluenced by the airflow of thruster jets. With the characteristicof high accuracy estimation of ESO, the chattering free trackingperformance of the attack angle command and the robustnessof the control law are achieved. Meanwhile, the stability of thedual-control system is analyzed based on finite time convergencestability theorem and Lyapunov’s theorem. Finally, numerical simulationsdemonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design.

A NUMERICAL STUDY ON A SIMPLIFIED TAIL MODEL FOR TURNING FISH IN C-START

Most freshwater fish are good at turning manoeuvres. A simulated fish tail model was numerically investigated and discussed in detail. This study deals with unsteady forces and moment exerted on the fish tail-fin in an initial sideways stroke and a subsequent return stroke motion, and visualizes the flow fields and vortex structures, in order to explore the flow control mechanism of the typical turning motion of fish. Further discussion on fluid dynamic consequences corresponding to two different bending forms of fish tail-fins in its C-start is given. The two-dimensional unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a developed pseudo-compressibility method to simulate the flow around the fish tail-fin. The computed results and the comparison with experiments indicate that （1） fish performs a turning motion of its body using the impulsive moment produced by the to-and-fro stroke, and each stage of the process exhibits its specific hydrodynamic characteristic, （2） fishes adopt two forms of tail-tip bend （single bend and double bend） to accomplish a C-start turning manoeuvre, in dependence of their physical situations and natural environments, （3） fish can control its turning motion by modulating some key kinematic parameters.