Design method of interconnection struts between flaps of large transport aircraft

Abstract

In the design of the modern large transport aircraft, flap system has become a standard configuration, which can increase the maximum wing lift and the climb rate of the aircraft. Meanwhile, the reliability of the flap system has always been the focus point of the aviation industry. The interconnection strut between flaps is a kind of redundancy design, which mitigates the failure of flap system enhancing flap system reliability. Since 1980s, aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing have designed many kinds of ICS for the large transport aircraft like A320, B737. Meanwhile, there is some study on ICS in China, which is still in its infancy. In this paper, the design method of ICS is studied, and the important design parameters of ICS are proposed. A new kind of ICS is designed, and the validity and rationality of ICS design are verified. Firstly, the multi-body dynamic model for the flap system is established and the working principle and important design parameters of ICS between flaps are studied; and then the energy absorbing characteristics of ICS energy absorbing elements are studied; finally, a new ICS is designed, and its mechanical properties and mitigation effect on flap system failure are simulated to verify the effectiveness and rationality of the design.