Virtual proving ground for aircraft structures

This paper presents an approach to development of complexes and programs of virtual experimental investigation in order to reduce full-scale testing in the design process of new products via state-of-the-art computer simulation techniques. Generally Virtual Proving Ground (VPG) is to be understood as integrating system for modeling strategies, solver settings, modules of automatic post-processing and load cases that match typical airplane tests and operating conditions. In the VPG environment has been developed a set Virtual Test Beds corresponding to tasks from various technical areas: ● VTB «Static structural strength» for virtual static strength tests to determine the stress-strain state of the structure and identify potentially critical places; ● VTB «Fatigue» for estimating fatigue life under the influence of a multi-cycle load; ● VTB «Durability» for simulating crack growth in the most critical places based on VTB «Fatigue» and «Static structural strength» data; ● VTB «Birdstrike» for simulating tests of bird collisions with aircraft panels; ● VTB «Hailstrike» for simulating tests of hailstones collisions with aircraft panels; ● VTB «Aerodynamics» for determining the aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft. Preliminary estimation of structure is possible due to automatic post-processing module: visualization of virtual testing, documentation of results (graphs, pictures, key values) and union of all experimental data into a presentation. The application of presented approach is described on example of stringer panel of a real airplane.