This research project deals with the reduction of wind gust loads on commercial aircraft in cruise flight. As possible concepts, flaps on the fuselage and along the wing are considered. Of particular interest is the influence of flap size and flap geometry on the change of lift and root bending moment. Gust alleviation is investigated on a backward and on forward swept aircraft configuration. The final objective is to reduce the structural mass of the aircraft.
The project is carried out in close cooperation with AIRBUS, the German Aerospace Center and the University of Stuttgart.
Lorenz Klug