Geman Aerospace Center (DLR)

Institute of Aeroelasticity

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October 14, 2025

The flutter problem with swept-back flying wings - investigations on two extravagant aircraft designs from today and 80 years ago

In autumn 2024 and May 2025, the Institute of Aeroelasticity had the opportunities to conduct a ground vibration test on two flying wing gliders. As similar as the aircraft are in terms of their rather unusual concept, they are very different in detail. The Horten IV is a replica of a construction from 1943 (the original is exhibited in Deutsches Museum München). It consists of wooden wings and a fuselage made of welded steel tubes. The completion of the replica is being supervised by the Akademische Fliegergruppe Darmstadt. In the second case, the AK-X of the Akademische Fliegergruppe Karlsruhe was tested, a very modern design with an elongated wing planform made entirely of highly rigid carbon fibre materials.

September 22, 2025

New aircraft configuration D2AE - from the Institute of Aeroelasticity

Aeroelastic properties are expected to become increasingly important for future aircraft configurations. A number of examples clearly show this obvious trend: The increasing use of lightweight structures, e.g. using carbon fibre materials, and the application of special structural design methods, such as structural optimisation, are expected to result in more elastic load-bearing structures. In addition, the development of technologies for comprehensive load reduction and flutter suppression will contribute to this. The trend towards increasing wing aspect ratio to improve aerodynamic properties also plays an important role.

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Departments of the Institute

Department Aeroelastic Experiments

The department “Aeroelastic Experiments” is committed to the planning, realization and analysis of challenging experiments in wind tunnels.

Department Aeroelastic Simulation

The Aeroelastic Simulation Department focuses on the numerical analysis of aeroelastic problems. Investigations for transport aircraft, small aircraft, turbomachines and rotorcraft are performed in close cooperation with the experimental activities of the institute.

Department Loads Analysis and Design

The Loads Analysis and Aeroelastic Design Department is concerned with questions that arise in the context of aircraft design with regard to aeroelastic properties or aeroelastic requirements. In addition, the Department deals with the subject of aircraft loads ‘in general’ (for example, for design tasks) and in-depth consideration of dynamic loads (among others, those due to gusts).

Department Structural Dynamics and System Identification

The Department of Structural Dynamics and System Identification deals with the dynamics and vibrations of structures in aeronautics and space travel. Through numerical analyzes and experimental investigations, essential mechanisms of the vibrations are recognized and cause-effect relationships are understood.

Department Control of Aeroelastic Systems

The Control of Aeroelastic Systems department is concerned with the design of control functions for the reduction of structural loads, aeroservoelastic stabilization and the improvement of passenger comfort.

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