Multidisciplinary conceptual investigation for integrating stores, not in the original configuration of a subsonic airplane

Abstract

Subsonic airplanes are widely used around the world in applications such as pilot training, transportation, sports activities, insect fighting, and field monitoring. This research deals with airplanes that already own the capability of carrying suspended loads. Increasing the airplane’s capabilities and configurations by integrating different suspended loads like smaller or larger external fuel tanks or insecticide tanks that are not in the original configuration of the airplane is a great advantage. This modification can be done without dramatic changes to the airplane and with minimum cost. In this research, a multidisciplinary methodology is used to integrate a commercially-available premade external fuel tank into the Embraer E312 Tucano airplane which is not in the original configuration of the airplane. First, a geometrical analysis is performed to ensure the availability of proper installation. This study leads to the design of an adaptor between the tank and the airplane pylon, then, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling using ANSYS-CFX is performed to evaluate aerodynamic forces and moments applied on the new fuel tank. Furthermore, finite element modeling using ANSYS-Static structure is performed by applying the aerodynamic and inertial loads to calculate the adaptor’s stresses and structure safety factor. Finally, vibration fatigue analysis-based power spectral densities are developed using ANSYS-Random vibration to calculate the adaptor’s estimated lifetime to ensure the store system’s safety by applying airplane vibration acceleration spectral density pattern selected from applicable standard. In this typical example, the above-mentioned methodology is applied and the results are acceptable.