This paper presents an approach to development of complexes and programs of virtual experimental investigation in order to reduce full-scale testing in the design process of new products via state-of-the-art computer simulation techniques. Generally Virtual Proving Ground (VPG) is to be understood as integrating system for modeling strategies, solver settings, modules of automatic post-processing and load cases that match typical airplane tests and operating conditions. In the VPG environment has been developed a set Virtual Test Beds corresponding to tasks from various technical areas: ● VTB «Static structural strength» for virtual static strength tests to determine the stress-strain state of the structure and identify potentially critical places; ● VTB «Fatigue» for estimating fatigue life under the influence of a multi-cycle load; ● VTB «Durability» for simulating crack growth in the most critical places based on VTB «Fatigue» and «Static structural strength» data; ● VTB «Birdstrike» for simulating tests of bird collisions with aircraft panels; ● VTB «Hailstrike» for simulating tests of hailstones collisions with aircraft panels; ● VTB «Aerodynamics» for determining the aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft. Preliminary estimation of structure is possible due to automatic post-processing module: visualization of virtual testing, documentation of results (graphs, pictures, key values) and union of all experimental data into a presentation. The application of presented approach is described on example of stringer panel of a real airplane.

The main challenges of aerospace industry are increased flight range, fuel, and operating costs. There is an urgent need for more efficient design methods and rational use of composite materials in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft and increase strength and reliability. The use of optimization methods, modern software, and supercomputer technologies plays a key role in shortening the product development cycle. It allows many design options to be analyzed and compared in the early design stages. This paper presents an approach to using optimization methods in conjunction with virtual tests. The Virtual Proving Ground (VPG) includes Virtual Testbeds (VTB) such as “Aerodynamics,” “Statics,” and “Dynamics.” VPG provides end-to-end transfer of results and boundary conditions between blocks and systems of automated post-processing of the results. Thus, the results of the aerodynamic tests are transferred as input data for the static strength tests. The results of static and dynamic tests allow to perform multicriterion optimization considering different loading conditions. Automated post-processing allows to track the miscellaneous parameters at every testing stage. The aim of this work is to develop an approach to optimization of a composite structures using VPG. The presented approach was developed and tested on the example of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

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