Twist morphing concept based on buckling-driven technologies

A novel twist morphing concept is explored, that exploits the buckling instabilities of slender spar webs integrated into a wing structure to control the twisting response to external loads. The main novelty of the concept is in controlling the effective shear stiffness of the post-buckled slender spar webs through external variable constraints...

Non-linear buckling analysis of GFRP plates: A numerical approach with progressive failure analysis

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) has increased rapidly in popularity in the past few decades. The material's advantageous properties, such as a high strength-to-weight ratio and low required maintenance, gave rise to its popularity in multiple major engineering branches. Buckling behaviour develops due to the notably low stiffness-to-strength...

Composite Cylindrical Shell Buckling: Simulation & Experimental Correlation

Guidelines dating back 50 years, NASA SP-8007, are employed today in the design of thin-walled launch vehicle structures. Due to advances in materials, structural designs, and manufacturing techniques since the publication of SP-8007, the development of new knockdown factors for contemporary launch vehicle structures is an ongoing subject of...

New Ways of Representing Finite Element Results of Shell Structures

The Finite Element Method is used in many computer programs to analyse the mechanical behaviour of shell structures. Although this method provides good quantitative insight into the mechanical behaviour of shell structures, it provides little qualitative insight. This master graduation thesis is aimed at expanding Finite Element Analysis (FEA)...