| Summary: | This study investigates the use of the divergence speed as an additional constraint to a multi-disciplinary optimization (MDO) problem. The goal of the project is to expand the MDO toolbox by adding an aeroelastic module used where the aeroelastic characteristics present a possible safety hazard. This paper examines aeroelastic theory and MDO disciplines. The divergence constraint function is developed on a BAH wing. The optimization problem is executed on the HANSA HFB 320 transport jet using the FEAP structural solver and a Vortex Lattice Method as the aerodynamic solver. The study shows that divergence speed can function as a safety constraint but the stress constraints determine the optimum design. Furthermore, obtaining a true divergence constraint will require a finer mesh, a more efficient aerodynamic solver and non-finite difference approach to gradient determination. Thus, the addition of the divergence constraint does not yet directly benefit this MDO framework.
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