Uncertainty Quantification of Aeroelastic Systems with Structural or Aerodynamic Nonlinearities

Abstract

In this work, various aeroelastic approaches are used in the uncertainty quantication of a generic UAV wing. The dierent methods that are employed investigate varying levels of model delity, representing methods that could be used for low-order, rst-case studies, up to much higher delity methodologies. Results consider geometrically-exact structural and aerodynamic nonlinearities, and investigates the validity of using low-order simulations to predict deterministic and uncertainty bounds versus those of higher-order approaches. It is shown how correlated loads envelopes comparing strip theory aerodynamics show good agreement with higher order panel methods, even for very exible wings, but it is also seen how dierences in aerodynamic modelling (which would be equivalent in a structurally linear analysis) can eect the results, particularly torque. It is also shown how aerodynamic delity can potentially aect the uncertainty bounds of the computed aerodynamic loads, suggesting that low-order potential ow solvers signicantly underestimate the uncertainty bounds compared to higher-order RANS approaches.