Simulation Software Package Research Articles

Efficiency Investigation and Modeling of an Ultra Thin-film CIGS Solar Cell using WxAMPS

The highly efficient CIGS thin-film solar cell is numerically investigated in this paper using solar simulator software wxAMPS (Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structures). WxAMPS is a customized simulation software package mainly used for photovoltaic cells, which supports quick data input and enhanced visualization with its improved user interface. Copper–indium–gallium–diselenide Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) is a semiconductor material with chalcopyrite crystal structure that has high conversion efficiency and structural stability. CIGS model- ZnO: Al/ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Mo/substrate is mainly experimental research that considers the physical characteristics, dimensions, and thicknesses of the different layers. The bilayer window and absorber layer with different thicknesses are the critical factors that influence solar cell performance. The bilayer window concept can assist in reducing the loss at the window layer. In this paper, through the numerical simulation, the highest conversion efficiency was achieved, 18.7%, with an optimum bandgap of 1.12 eV with 3000 nm thickness of the absorber layer under AM 1.5G.

MAGPIE: a web-based, open-source framework for plate vibration analysis

The analysis and simulation of plate vibrations are central to many branches of science and engineering, specifically acoustics and musical acoustics. Well-developed plate theories exist, along with numerous simulation software packages, but they are seldom available in open-source form and are not easily accessible to a greater audience. MAGPIE is a framework for interacting with a novel finite difference scheme for plates under general elastic boundary conditions. Free, clamped, and simply supported boundary conditions are obtainable by setting stiffness coefficients to very small or large values. Boundary conditions are parameterised which allow for intermediate possibilities. A web browser based implementation of the framework includes interactive elements. Users begin by providing parameters for an isotropic plate. These parameters are then used to generate visualisations of the mode shapes from the finite difference scheme simulation. Elastic boundary conditions can then be changed on a continuous scale to see their effect on mode shapes. Results are then available for export in common image and data formats. MAGPIE aims to make it easier to explain concepts such as mode shapes to a wider audience and also provide a tool for research that is accessible to students, scientists and musical instrument builders.

Innovation in viruses: fitness valley crossing, neutral landscapes, or just duplications?

Viruses evolve by periods of relative stasis interleaved with sudden, rapid series of mutation fixations, known as evolutionary bursts. These bursts can be triggered by external factors, such as environmental changes, antiviral therapies, or spill-overs from reservoirs into novel host species. However, it has also been suggested that bursts may result from the intrinsic evolutionary dynamics of viruses. Indeed, bursts could be caused by fitness valley crossing, or a neutral exploration of a fitness plateau until an escape mutant is found. In order to investigate the importance of these intrinsic causes of evolutionary bursts, we used a simulation software package to perform massive evolution experiments of viral-like genomes. We tested two conditions: (i) after an external change and (ii) in a constant environment, with the latter condition guaranteeing the absence of an external triggering factor. As expected, an external change was almost systematically followed by an evolutionary burst. However, we also observed bursts in the constant environment as well, albeit much less frequently. We analyzed how many of these bursts are triggered by deleterious, quasi-neutral, or beneficial mutations and show that, while bursts can occasionally be triggered by valley crossing or traveling along neutral ridges, many of them were triggered by chromosomal rearrangements and, in particular, segmental duplications. Our results suggest that combinatorial differences between the different mutation types lead to punctuated evolutionary dynamics, with long periods of stasis occasionally interrupted by short periods of rapid evolution, akin to what is observed in virus evolution.

On the implementation of acollinearity in PET Monte Carlo simulations

Objective.Acollinearity of annihilation photons (APA) introduces spatial blur in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This phenomenon increases proportionally with the scanner diameter and it has been shown to follow a Gaussian distribution. This last statement can be interpreted in two ways: the magnitude of the acollinearity angle, or the angular deviation of annihilation photons from perfect collinearity. As the former constitutes the partial integral of the latter, a misinterpretation could have significant consequences on the resulting spatial blurring. Previous research investigating the impact of APA in PET imaging has assumed the Gaussian nature of its angular deviation, which is consistent with experimental results. However, a comprehensive analysis of several simulation software packages for PET data acquisition revealed that the magnitude of APA was implemented as a Gaussian distribution.Approach.We quantified the impact of this misinterpretation of APA by comparing simulations obtained with GATE, which is one of these simulation programs, to an in-house modification of GATE that models APA deviation as following a Gaussian distribution.Main results.We show that the APA misinterpretation not only alters the spatial blurring profile in image space, but also considerably underestimates the impact of APA on spatial resolution. For an ideal PET scanner with a diameter of 81 cm, the APA point source response simulated under the first interpretation has a cusp shape with 0.4 mm FWHM. This is significantly different from the expected Gaussian point source response of 2.1 mm FWHM reproduced under the second interpretation.Significance.Although this misinterpretation has been found in several PET simulation tools, it has had a limited impact on the simulated spatial resolution of current PET scanners due to its small magnitude relative to the other factors. However, the inaccuracy it introduces in estimating the overall spatial resolution of PET scanners will increase as the performance of newer devices improves.

Design and optimization study of all inorganic based double-absorption- layer CsPbI3/MoS2 heterojunction perovskite solar cells by SCAPS-1D

In recent years, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) continue to be a popular issue due to their high-power conversion efficiency (PCE%) and cost-effective production process. The CsPbI3 absorber layer used to produce PSCs limits the efficiency of the structure because it can absorb low-energy photons. Therefore, in this study, for the first time, CsPbI3 and CsPbI3/MoS2 single and double absorber based inorganic heterojunction PSCs were studied in detail, compared and optimized by using Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D) software package. We discussed how the photovoltaic efficiency changed based on the open-circuit voltage (Voc), circuit current density (Jsc), quantum efficiency (QE), PCE% and fill factor (FF) relies on layer thickness, operating temperature, defect density (Nt), acceptor (NA) and donor density (ND), and heterojunction design. CuSbS2 and PCBM were chosen as the HTL and ETL layers, respectively. Depending on the results obtained from the SCAPS-1D, the optimum parameters for the Au/HTL/CsPbI3/ETL/FTO single layer device were determined as Thickness = 300 nm, Nt = 1011 cm-3, NA = 1013 cm-3, and T = 310 K. Then, the optimum parameters of MoS2 for the Au/HTL/CsPbI3/MoS2/ETL/FTO double layer-based device were determined as Thickness = 600 nm, Nt = 1010 cm-3 and ND = 1018 cm-3. It has been observed that MoS2 increases the light absorption capacity of the PSC device. As a result, the solar cell efficiency of the device with MoS2 has improved from 20.44 % to 40.66 % compared to the single-layer device. Additionally, in this study, presented a new approach for the future development at highly efficient, stable and completely inorganic PSCs integrated with transition metal dichalcogenide(TMDs; MoS2) materials.

The effect of strain effect on WS2 monolayer as a potential delivery carrier for anti-myocardial infarction drug: First-principles study.

Myocardial infarction is one of the major health challenges. It is of great significance to develop potential delivery carriers for new anti-myocardial infarction drugs. In this paper, based on first-principles calculations, monolayer WS2 with excellent photoelectric properties was verified as a carrier for the anti-myocardial infarction drug amiodarone (AMD). Studies have shown that the WS2-adsorbed AMD system (WS2@AMD) maintains structural stability and produces an adsorption energy of-2.12 eV. Mulliken charge analysis shows that electrons are transferred from WS2 atoms to AMD atoms. Among them, C, N and O obtained the maximum values of 0.51,0.37 and 0.56 e electrons, respectively, while H and I lost the maximum values of 0.32 and 0.24 e electrons, respectively. The optical response of WS2 adsorbed AMD system is similar to that of WS2. The light absorption coefficients of the two materials in the near ultraviolet region and the visible region can reach the order of 105 cm-1 and 104 cm-1, and the strain makes the light absorption peak red-shifted. The feasibility of temperature-controlled release mechanism of WS2 as AMD carrier was discussed. This theoretical work helps to improve the performance of two-dimensional nanomaterials and make them better as drug delivery carriers to improve the therapeutic effect of myocardial infarction. These results indicate that the WS2 monolayer has potential applications in the development of drug delivery carriers. In this study, based on first-principles calculations, the CASTEP simulation software package was used to study the structure and properties of materials. The interaction between electrons and ions is considered by using Ultrasoft pseudopotentials. In order to eliminate the spurious interaction between adjacent structures caused by periodic calculations, a vacuum space no less than 18 Å is placed in the vertical direction if necessary. Different functions may produce different density functional calculation results. Due to the low sensitivity of the crystal structure to the calculation details, the PBE functional under the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) was initially used for structural optimization, and the energy cutoff value was set to 500 eV. Grimme 's dispersion correction was used to make the results more accurate. The Brillouin zone (BZ) is sampled by a 7 × 7 × 1 K-point grid to ensure the reliability of the original lattice calculation. The lattice vector and atomic coordinates are relaxed, and the tolerance of each atom is less than 0.01 eV/Å. The energy tolerance at the atomic position is less than 10-7 eV/atom. When calculating the band gap, the HSE06 hybrid functional is used to modify the optimized structure of the PBE functional to obtain more accurate results. Spin-polarized DFT calculations were performed to calculate the electronic structure.

A rotational/roto-translational constraint method for condensed matter.

Molecular rotations influence numerous condensed matter phenomena but are often difficult to isolate in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This work presents a rotational/roto-translational constraint algorithm designed for condensed matter simulations. The method is based on the velocity Verlet scheme, ensuring a direct constraint on velocity and simplifying implementation within material simulation software packages. We implemented the algorithm in a customized version of a CP2K package and validated its effectiveness through MD simulations of molecule and crystal. The results demonstrate successful selective constraint of rotational and roto-translational motions, enabling stable long-term simulations. This capability opens avenues for studying rotation-related phenomena (e.g., paddle-wheel mechanism in solid-state electrolytes) and constrained sampling.

$$\nu$$Oscillation: a software package for computation and simulation of neutrino oscillation and detection

$$\nu$$Oscillation: a software package for computation and simulation of neutrino oscillation and detection

Fast, approximation-free molecular simulation of the SPC/Fw water model using non-reversible Markov chains

In a world made of atoms, computer simulations of molecular systems such as proteins in water play an enormous role in science. Software packages for molecular simulation have been developed for decades. They all discretize Hamilton’s equations of motion and treat long-range potentials through cutoffs or discretization of reciprocal space. This introduces severe approximations and artifacts that must be controlled algorithmically. Here, we bring to fruition a paradigm for molecular simulation that relies on modern concepts in statistics to explore the thermodynamic equilibrium with an exact and efficient non-reversible Markov process. It is free of all discretizations, approximations, and cutoffs. We explicitly demonstrate that this approach reaches a break-even point with traditional molecular simulation performed at high precision, but without any of its approximations. We stress the potential of our paradigm for crucial applications in biophysics and other fields, and as a practical approach to molecular simulation. We set out a strategy to reach our goal of rigorous molecular simulation.

Development of a Software Package Architecture for Simulation and Prototyping of Radar Systems and Complexes

Introduction. Computer simulation and prototyping software can simplify the design process of complex information and measurement systems significantly, including radar systems and complexes. At present, a number of software packages are used to solve these problems to varying degrees. However, these software packages are either versatile, thus being incapable of taking the specifics of radar operation into account and requiring hand-made implementation of mathematical models for simulating radar signals, or are aimed at a narrow range of prototyping problems and algorithm development for processing radar information for a strictly defined radar type (or even a specific model). Some software packages, such as MATLAB, offer extension packages that allow radar signal simulation for automotive radars, as well as radar signal processing; however, these packages cannot cover the full range of simulation and prototyping tasks.Aim. Analysis of current software packages for simulation and prototyping of radar systems and complexes, justification of the demand and development of the concept and architecture of a software package for simulation and prototyping of radar systems and complexes.Materials and methods. Systems approach, architectural and conceptual software design, system analysis, criterion analysis. Results. The criteria that software packages for simulating and prototyping of radar systems and complexes must meet were determined. A comparative analysis of the existing approaches and software packages that solve problems arising at various stages of radar development was carried out. A list of requirements for such a software package was compiled, its concept and architecture was developed, and some features of its implementation were determined.Conclusion. The developed architecture allows creation of a versatile software package which could provide solutions to the problems of simulation and prototyping of radar systems and complexes using a single software package. The applied principles of modularity and decomposition ensure versatility and a high potential for adapting software modules, including for creating software for controlling radar prototypes and visualizing radar data in real time.

LUNAR: Automated Input Generation and Analysis for Reactive LAMMPS Simulations.

Generating simulation-ready molecular models for the LAMMPS molecular dynamics (MD) simulation software package is a difficult task and impedes the more widespread and efficient use of MD in materials design and development. Fixed-bond force fields generally require manual assignment of atom types, bonded interactions, charges, and simulation domain sizes. A new LAMMPS pre- and postprocessing toolkit (LUNAR) is presented that efficiently builds molecular systems for LAMMPS. LUNAR automatically assigns atom types, generates bonded interactions, assigns charges, and provides initial configuration methods to generate large molecular systems. LUNAR can also incorporate chemical reactivity into simulations by facilitating the use of the REACTER protocol. Additionally, LUNAR provides postprocessing for free volume calculations, cure characterization calculations, and property predictions from LAMMPS thermodynamic outputs. LUNAR has been validated via building and simulation of pure epoxy and cyanate ester polymer systems with a comparison of the corresponding predicted structures and properties to benchmark values, including experimental results from the literature. LUNAR provides the tools for the computationally driven development of next-generation composite materials in the Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) and Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) frameworks. LUNAR is written in Python with the usage of NumPy and can be used via a graphical user interface, a command line interface, or an integrated design environment. LUNAR is freely available via GitHub.

Measurement-based Detector Characteristics for Digital Twins in aRTist

Various software products for the simulation of industrial X-ray radiography have been developed in recent years (e.g., aRTist 2, CIVA CT, Scorpius XLab, SimCT, Wilcore) and their application potential has been shown in numerous works. However, full systematic approaches to characterise a specific CT system for these simulation software products to obtain a truthful digital twin are still missing. In this contribution, we want to present two approaches to obtain realistic grey values in X-ray projections in aRTist 2 simulations based on measured projections. In aRTist 2, the displayed grey value of a pixel is based on the energy density incident on that pixel. The energy density is calculated based on the X-ray tube spectrum, the attenuation between source and detector as well as an energy-dependent sensitivity curve of the detector. The first approach presented in this contribution uses the sensitivity curve as a free modelling parameter. We measured the signal response at different thicknesses of Al EN-AW6082 at different tube voltages (i.e., different tube spectra). We then regarded the grey values displayed by these projections as a data regression respectively an optimisation problem and obtained the sensitivity curve that is best able to reproduce the measured behaviour in aRTist 2. The resulting sensitivity curve does not necessarily hold physical meaning but is able to simulate the real system behaviour in the simulation software. The second approach presented in this contribution is to estimate the sensitivity curve based on assumptions about the characteristics of the scintillation detector (e.g., scintillator material, scintillator thickness and signal processing characteristics). For this approach, a linear response function (linear relationship between the deposited energy per pixel and the resulting grey value) is assumed. If the detector characteristics, which affect the simulated deposited energy, are properly modelled, the slope and offset of the response function to match the measured grey values should be the same for different tube spectra. As the offset is constant and given by the grey values measured at no incident radiation, the slope is the remaining parameter to evaluate the success of the detector modelling. We therefore adapted the detector characteristics by changing the detector setup until the slope was nearly the same for all measured tube spectra. We are aware that the resulting parameters of the scintillator material and thickness might not be the real ones, but with those modelling parameters we are able to simulate realistic grey values in aRTist 2. Both of those approaches could potentially be a step forward to a full systematic approach for a digital twin of a real CT system in aRTist 2.

Simulation of a Heat Transfer Mechanism in a Shell and Tube Coil Heat Exchanger

Statement of the problem. The mechanism of heat exchange between counterflow circuits in a shell-and-tube coil heat exchanger, inside which heating and heated coolants flow, is discussed. It is required to build computer models of the movement of coolants in different operating conditions, to simulate the mechanism of heat exchange in the countercurrent mode of movement of coolants in a shell-and-tube coil heat exchanger. This problem was solved in the Solidworks Flow Simulation software package. Results. A mathematical model of the heat exchange process in a shell-and-tube coil heat exchanger was obtained with visualization of the mechanisms of coolant movement inside the heating and heated circuits. Conclusions. Based on the simulation results, a comparison was made of various computer models of the apparatus obtained. The optimal design has been determined.

SIMULATION OF THE STRESSED-DEFORMED STATE OF THE ELASTIC DISCTOR RACK WITH A STIFFNESS REGULATOR

The paper involves the physical-mathematical modeling of the stress-strain state of an elastic stand of a developed disc harrow equipped with a stiffness regulator. The use of disc tools with individual attachment to elastic stands contributes to improving the quality and reducing the energy consumption of soil processing. This is due to the formation of oscillatory motion of the discs caused by the uneven resistance of the soil in the direction of the unit's movement. The goal of theoretical research is three-dimensional modeling of the stress-strain state of the elastic stand of the disc harrow with a stiffness regulator and substantiation of the range of its rational design parameters. To evaluate the interaction process between elastic working elements and the soil, a harmonic analysis was performed to determine the peak response of the system in a steady state to harmonic loads. In each step of the solution, all applied loads and base excitations have the same frequency, and the values are determined by the corresponding frequency curves. Using the SOLIDWORKS Simulation software package, the relevant physical-mathematical apparatus was compiled. On the basis of this approach, already at the stage of designing disk working bodies on elastic risers, it is possible to conclude about the possibility of them performing specific technological tasks, when by changing the parameters of the risers and conducting repeated studies, it is possible to obtain the corresponding dependencies in the form of regression equations. The results of numerical modeling provide visualization of the change in stress distribution over time in the stand. The dynamics of the change in maximum stress, located on the bend of the stand (R2) and the stiffness regulator (R1), were determined as the stress changes according to the law of damped oscillation with a specified natural frequency. In order to ensure the best working conditions of the elastic riser, it is necessary to ensure the greatest deformation of the riser at the place of attachment of the disc ΔL1 and, at the same time, the smallest value of the deformation of the tool frame ΔL2, by solving the trade-off problem in the Wolfram Cloud software package by maximizing the multiplicative function, the rational geometric dimensions of the diskator riser and constructive parameters of its placement in space.

Enhancing piezoelectric performance of CNTs through B and N substitution under combined mechanical loads: insights from MD simulations

The piezoelectric properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) doped with boron (B) and nitrogen (N) were studied using the classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation software package large scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator. The interactions among the nanotube atoms C, N, and B were calculated using the Tersoff potential. MD simulations were performed to observe the changes in the piezoelectric coefficient of the doped CNTs under loading conditions like tension, torsion, and a combination of both. We considered a wide range of chirality to determine the influence of structural variation on the piezoelectric effect. The study revealed that B-CNTs exhibit superior piezoelectric coefficients compared to N-CNTs, indicating the significant role of dopant type. Moreover, under tensile loading, zigzag-oriented B-CNTs showed higher piezoelectric coefficients with a maximum e33 = 0.2441 C m−2, whereas under torsional loading, armchair-oriented B-CNTs showed enhanced response with a maximum e36 = 0.0564 C m−2. A notable observation was that under combined loading conditions (tensile and torsional), the piezoelectric behavior of the B-CNTs was dependent on the nanotube’s chirality and did not yield a linear additive response. The polarization induced under combined loading in most of the doped CNTs is significantly higher than the sum of polarization generated under tensile and torsional loading conditions. This behavior suggests that the overall piezoelectric effect under combined loading can be enhanced, which emphasizes the need for an approach to optimize the mechanical loading condition. The results showcase the potential of B-/N-CNTs to be engineered for efficient performance by demonstrating that tailored mechanical loading can enhance the piezoelectric responses in doped CNTs, opening a pathway for highly functional and efficient nanoscale piezoelectric devices.

Investigation of crystalline lens overshooting: ex vivo experiment and optomechanical simulation results.

Introduction: Crystalline lens overshooting refers to a situation in which the lens momentarily shifts too much from its typical location immediately after stopping the rotational movement of the eye globe. This movement can be observed using an optical technique called Purkinje imaging. Methods: In this work, an experimental setup was designed to reproduce this effect ex vivo using a fresh porcine eye. The sample was rotated 90° around its centroid using a high-velocity rotation stage, and the Purkinje image sequences were recorded, allowing us to quantify the overshooting effect. The numerical part of the study consisted of developing a computational model of the eye, based on the finite element method, that allowed us to understand the biomechanical behavior of the different tissues in this dynamic scenario. A 2D fluid-structure interaction model of the porcine eye globe, considering both the solid parts and humors, was created to reproduce the experimental outcomes. Results: Outputs of the simulation were analyzed using an optical simulation software package to assess whether the mechanical model behaves optically like the real ex vivo eye. The simulation predicted the experimental results by carefully adjusting the mechanical properties of the zonular fibers and the damping factor. Conclusion: This study effectively demonstrates the importance of characterizing the dynamic mechanical properties of the eye tissues to properly comprehend and predict the overshooting effect.

Modifying the gas-oil ratio and water cut of a PVT lookup table using correlations for fluid volatility

PVT lookup tables with fixed fluid composition are widely used by simulation software packages to model complex multiphase flow in petroleum production systems. These tables contain pre-calculated values of various fluid properties, including phase fractions, densities, viscosities, and other properties that are relevant to fluid behaviour. The pre-calculated values are based on a given set of pressures, temperatures, and composition. The tables enable efficient and accurate simulations by reducing computational load. However, they are created for fluids with fixed total composition, which limits their use for modelling fluids with varying gas-oil ratios and water cuts.To address this limitation, this work introduces a novel methodology for adjusting the gas-oil ratio and water cut within a given PVT table without changing the composition of the fluid. The methodology relies on correlations developed for volatility, estimating bubble- and dewpoint pressures when adjusting gas-oil ratio and water cut. The model demonstrates remarkable efficacy, achieving excellent agreement with bubble- and dewpoint pressures, yielding average absolute relative errors of only 0.85% and 0.68% respectively for gas-oil ratio adjustments, and 0.97% for water cut adjustments. It is further demonstrated that the new model accurately predicts phase fractions of typical volatile oils below the critical temperature and black oils when adjusting the gas-oil ratio and water cut. Additionally, the model can provide rough estimates for volatile oils above the critical temperature and for gas condensates. Moreover, model reliability is expected if the gas-oil ratio and water cut adjustments are kept within a range of 20–180% of the original values.The work provides a valuable approach to improve the flexibility of fixed composition PVT lookup tables for simulating multiphase production systems.

Determination of the Strength of a Container with Sandwich Panel Walls under Operational Loading Conditions

Purpose. The main purpose of this work is to present the results of determining the strength of a container with sandwich panel walls under the main operating modes of loading. Methodology. To ensure the strength of the bearing structure of the container, it is proposed to make its end and side walls from sandwich panels. This involves the creation of sandwich panels from two metal sheets, between which there is a filler in the form of an energy-absorbing material. The thickness of the sandwich panel sheets is determined by the Bubnov-Galerkin method. The sheet is considered as a thin-walled plate with the corresponding width and height parameters. To determine the strength of the load-bearing structure of a container with sandwich panel walls, the corresponding calculations were performed using the finite element method in the SolidWorks Simulation software package. The Mises criterion (IV theory of strength) was used as a calculation criterion. The spatial model of the container was created in SolidWorks. Findings. Taking into account the calculations, the rational thickness of the sheets, in terms of strength, of the side and end walls was established, which was 1.6 and about 3.0 mm, respectively. It is important that the use of rectangular corrugations makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the end wall sheet to 1.0 mm. The thickness of the side wall sheet is the same. The maximum stresses in the container in the case of its longitudinal loading occur in the fittings and amount to 268.3 MPa, which is 13.6 % lower than the permissible ones. The maximum stresses in the container under transverse loading were recorded in the areas of interaction between the side wall and the corner posts. The numerical value of these stresses was 178 MPa, which is 15.2 % lower than the permissible ones. Originality. The paper scientifically substantiates the use of sandwich panels as the walls of a uni-versal container. Practical value. The research will contribute to the creation of recommendations for the design of modern modular-type vehicle structures and improve the efficiency of the transport industry.

Enhancing gust load alleviation performance in an optimized composite wing using passive wingtip devices: Folding and Twist approaches

This paper introduces an innovative numerical method for the design and optimization of high-aspect-ratio composite wings equipped with passive control systems, specifically, Folding WingTip (FWT) and Twist WingTip (TWT) devices. The aim is to enhance Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) performance in the baseline wing. Recent numerical studies have indicated that the inclusion of spring devices and wingtip modifications can offer additional benefits in alleviating gust loads during flight. The baseline wing is designed using a comprehensive multi-disciplinary optimization framework, taking into account aerostructural constraints and exploiting the anisotropic properties of composite materials. The proposed methodology integrates Finite Element (FE) software, an in-house Reduced Order Model (ROM) framework for nonlinear aeroelastic analyses, and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). This method, implemented in the Nonlinear Aeroelastic Simulation Software (NAS2) package, facilitated the streamlined design of composite wings with optimized aeroelastic and structural performance. The paper is divided into two main parts. Part 1 introduces a Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) approach for high-aspect-ratio composite wings, leading to the development of a baseline wing model. Part 2 evaluates the effectiveness of the FWT and TWT devices in alleviating gust loads on the baseline wing, with a focus on the Root Bending Moment (RBM) as a critical criterion for comparison. In wingtip modeling, geometrical nonlinearity is incorporated, and elastic trim is adjusted in each iteration to accommodate shape changes under load and aerodynamic panel movement is synchronized with structural adjustments.

High Aspect Ratio Composite Wings: Geometrically Nonlinear Aeroelasticity, Multi-Disciplinary Design Optimization, Manufacturing, and Experimental Testing

In the field of aerospace engineering, the design and manufacturing of high aspect ratio composite wings has become a focal point of innovation and efficiency. These long, slender wings, constructed with advanced materials such as carbon fiber and employing efficient manufacturing methods such as vacuum bagging, hold the promise of significantly lighter aircraft, reduced fuel consumption, and enhanced overall performance. However, to fully realize these benefits, it is imperative to address a multitude of structural and aeroelastic constraints. This research presents a novel aeroelastically tailored Multi-objective, Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization (MMDO) approach that seamlessly integrates numerical optimization techniques to minimize weight and ensure structural integrity. The optimized wing configuration is then manufactured, and a Ground Vibration Test (GVT) and static deflection analysis using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system are used to validate and correlate with the numerical model. Within the fully automated in-house Nonlinear Aeroelastic Simulation Software (NAS2) package (version v1.0), the integration of analytical tools offers a robust numerical approach for enhancing aeroelastic and structural performance in the design of composite wings. Nonlinear aeroelastic analyses and tailoring are included, and a population-based stochastic optimization is used to determine the optimum design within NAS2. These analytical tools contribute to a comprehensive and efficient methodology for designing composite wings with improved aeroelastic and structural characteristics. This comprehensive methodology aims to produce composite wings that not only meet rigorous safety and performance standards but also drive cost-efficiency in the aerospace industry. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the authors seek to underscore the pivotal role of tailoring aeroelastic solutions in the advanced design and manufacturing of high aspect ratio composite wings, thereby contributing to the continued evolution of aerospace technology.