Citation

Lan CE, Chang RC, Guan WL. J. Aeronaut. Astronaut. Aviat. 2006; 38 A(3): 159-166.

Affiliation

Aerospace Engineering Dept., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Aeronautical and Astronautical Society of the Republic of China)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To emphasize the importance of monitoring the structural integrity of aging aircraft, some accidents involving structural failure in flight are reviewed. Since the nondestructive inspection techniques are time-consuming, as a complementary monitoring method it is proposed to utilize the digital flight data for this purpose. A theory in static aeroelasticity is reviewed. Aerodynamic models of normal force and pitching moment coefficients are established through fuzzy logic modeling of the flight data. Stability and control derivatives with aeroelastic effects are then calculated by using these aerodynamic models to indirectly predict possible problems in the wing structure as well as the empennage structure. Three examples, one involving a newer twin-engine passenger jet transport, and the other two for four-engine old passenger jet transport airplanes, are presented in this paper.