• Mr. Steven Dobbs
  • California State Polytechnic University
  • 104D Surge Building
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • Faculty Host: Dr. Rakesh Kapania

Recent emphasis on developing extraordinary fuel efficient “green” aircraft are driving future aircraft designs toward higher and higher aspect ratio wings and tails to reduce drag and increase range. However, the inherent extreme flexibility or these wings will be more prone to aeroelastic problems such as coupled wing and body bending instabilities, aero-servoelastic instabilities, divergence, gust response, excessive deflections from hard landings, and flutter.  The Cal Poly Pomona Aerospace Engineering department is involved in a series of student and faculty led experimental research projects to investigate the types of aeroelastic and structural dynamics design issues related to high aspect ratio wings. The multi-year experimental projects include active twist control of flexible composite wings for drag reduction, simulation of “free-flight’’ of a model in a wind tunnel for measurements of dynamic stability derivatives, development of a wind tunnel gust generation system, dynamic model gust response and active control for gust alleviation, buffet alleviation, flutter suppression, and the simultaneous implementation of multiple control laws. The projects include coordination with the Air Force Research Labs and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for a model of the X-56A, and Boeing for a wing model of the Blended Wing Body aircraft. These current and future projects will be discussed including emphasis on developing wind tunnel testing and validation methods.