Department Aeroelastic Simulation

Turbulent wedge on the forward swept laminar wing

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.

Applications range from aeroelastic stability analyses (e.g. flutter analysis) and the exact calculation of unsteady airloads to the temporal and spatial coupling of fluid and structures. Furthermore, the dynamics of the aircraft at landing and the integration of aeroelastic methods into the design as well as multidisciplinary optimization are topics of current work.

Depending on the objective of the investigation, methods of different levels of complexity are available. Starting with aerodynamic panel codes, multibody dynamics and simple structural models, included are also high-fidelity methods like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and large finite element models.

The work is performed in close cooperation with internal and external partners. Those partners include other DLR institutes as well as industries and research institutes from Germany and Europe.

Research topics of the department

Research topic

Aeroelastic Simulation of Wind Turbines

For the aeroelastic simulation and analysis of wind turbines, models of different levels of complexity are used. The vibrational behavior due to the interaction of elastic structure and unsteady aerodynamics is of particular interest.

Research topic

Aeroelastic Stability and System Response

The major part of the activities in the field of aeroelastic stability and system response is concerned with the aeroelasticity of civil and military transport aircraft. However, small business aircraft and glider planes are also subject of investigation.

Research topic

Unsteady Aerodynamics

Unsteady aerodynamics plays a critical role in aerospace engineering, exploring the intricate dynamic nature of the aerodynamic forces and moments generated as flexible aircraft or rotorcraft move through fluid flow. Gaining insight into unsteady aerodynamics is essential for designing safer, more efficient aircraft and predicting their dynamic performance in real-world conditions.

Technical articles and news from the department

June 17, 2024

Active Flutter Suppression: Are we reactive enough?

Flutter is a form of aeroelastic instability that manifests itself with oscillations which either grow, and eventually lead to a structural failure, or remain at some constant-amplitude provoking fatigue issues. Due to the safety implications of the phenomenon, design clearance from flutter must be guaranteed.

December 5, 2023

Turbulent wedge – a small disturbance with a large effect

The boundary layer, a tiny layer on the surface of a body in a flowing fluid, such as an airplane wing in the air, is of paramount importance for the future of flight. Just over 100 years ago, Ludwig Prandtl introduced the term boundary layer to distinguish the area close to the wall, where the viscosity of the air is of importance, from the outer flow, where viscosity can be neglected in aerodynamic considerations.

August 18, 2023

Successful demonstration of active flutter suppression

A team of researchers in Europe has succeeded in overcoming an important challenge in aeroelasticity – the suppression of the phenomenon of flutter in an aircraft structure by means of an active control system.

May 4, 2023

Active wing flutter suppression through multiple flap control

The occurrence of flutter as a hazardous event of elastic structures in flow environment mostly leads to failure and demolition of the aircraft. The loss of flutter stability within a flight envelope can be avoided by shifting the flutter points to higher flight velocities or erase them at all.

January 12, 2023

Wind Turbine Stability Analysis - How do we increase the confidence?

Wind turbines are already among the largest man-made objects. It is obvious that interactions take place between the motion of this flexible structure and the surrounding air.

July 14, 2022

Rigid helicopter rotor blades – Is this really enough?

Specially shaped helicopter rotor blades with a kink at the outer part make it possible to reduce the radiating annoying rotor noise [1]. Against this background, the aeroelastic behaviour together with the aerodynamic phenomenon of dynamic stall is of great importance.

February 25, 2022

Semi-active flutter suppression

The term flutter represents one of the central phenomena in the field of aeroelasticity and describes a self-excited oscillation, which, in the worst case, can lead to a destruction of aircraft components and ultimately to a destruction of the aircraft itself. Especially in the transonic flow regime, the risk of flutter is high.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Holger Hennings

Head of Aeroelastic Simulation
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Aeroelasticity
Bunsenstraße 10, 37073 Göttingen
Germany