Generative design of main landing gear for a remote-controlled aircraft

Abstract

Current research and development in the aviation and aerospace industry aim to increase efficiency by reducing the weight of a remote-controlled (RC) aircraft using various simulation tools. Advancements in weight reduction algorithms have led to the development of sophisticated topology optimization and generative design algorithms. In the present paper, the main landing gear of an RC aircraft has been designed using a fusion of topology optimization and generative design algorithms. A finite element analysis (FEA) has been performed using ANSYS to obtain total deformation and von-Mises stress for various designs of the landing gear. The ratio for a factor of safety to mass has been calculated for each design of the main landing gear obtained through conventional design, topology optimized design, generative design, and fusion of topology optimization and generative design. The trade-off for each design has been obtained to reduce the overall weight of the RC aircraft. The final design of the main landing gear resulted in a 30% weight reduction from the conventional design.