Asymmetric bending is explored as a means of inducing bend-twist coupling in an isotropic, fixed-wing airfoil. An analytical model describing the bend-twist coupling behavior of a constant-section airfoil undergoing steady wind loading is derived from Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, and evaluated over a range of structural and material stiffness. Finite element analysis is carried out in the ANSYS Parametric Design Language environment for an asymmetric, two-dimensional beam. Three-dimensional finite element analysis is carried out for two candidate blade models created in Pro/Engineer based on the NACA 64618 airfoil. Deformation results for the two- and three-dimensional finite element models are compared with analytical solutions. Results of this investigation highlight the dependency between the cross-sectional properties of a spar support and its tendency to exhibit twist-coupling under transverse loading.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:theses-2281 |
| Date | 01 January 2013 |
| Creators | Mcclelland, Charles |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 |
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