An investigation of dynamic stress reduction of multibody aircraft using active gust control

In the future there will be aircraft which are much larger than current aircraft now in service. It is important that their efficiency also be increased. One way to increase their efficiency is to reduce the percentage of gross weight devoted to structural weight. These savings can then be translated into payload weight increases.;Structural weight savings can be achieved by reducing those bending moments and/or torsion moments which design major parts of the structure. One way to attain this is to redistribute the load so as to be closer to where the lift is. A multibody aircraft can provide such advantages. Another means which is becoming increasingly acceptable is through active control alleviation of dynamic loads. Gusts usually define the structural design through fatigue allowables. By active control of control surfaces such as ailerons and elevators, it may be possible to reduce the bending moments resulting from gust encounters.;This thesis will compare structural weight among three large aircraft designs: single-body, two-body and three-body on the basis of equal structural margins of safety. In addition it examines how a multibody aircraft with active control can further reduce the moments associated with response to gusts. This will then allow a further assessment of the extent to which structural weight can be reduced.