Study and structural analysis of a monocoque wing with composite materials for a model aircraft

Abstract

Trencalòs Team is a research team mainly formed by aeronautical engineers who are specialized in aeromodelling. They organize several activities in The School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering of Terrassa (ESEIAAT) in order to divulge knowledge of aeronautics and to improve the relation between the students and the university. Its main activity is to participate to an international competition called Air Cargo Challenge. It consists of manufacturing and ying a model aircraft capable of lift up as much payload as possible while performing a circuit. For the Air Cargo Challenge 2017 event, the team decided to take the plunge and bring a new aircraft concept. It consisted of a monocoque wing structure made of composite materials. This thesis is focused on fi nding an optimum design that could compete with aircraft from all around the world. To do so, an iterative design process has been carried out. Using Abaqus, a Finite Element Method (FEM) software, different cases of structures have been analyzed. In the end, the best design has been selected and it is the one that Trencalòs Team will bring to the Air Cargo Challenge 2017.