Design of Optimum Aircraft Structure Inspired by Dragonfly Wings

Abstract

The aim of this study is to establish a novel aircraft design approach combining structural optimized biomimetics. The intention of utilizing biomimetics lies in acquiring an efficient and novel composites airframe structural concept replacing the “black metal structure.†A typical macroscopic structural layout on a dragonfly wing, called Voronoi patterns, was applied to the reinforcement structures on a part of an aircraft wing. This design approach significantly contributed to structural weight reduction. The manufacturability of more complex structure is also confirmed by producing prototypes, evaluating quality of created models and identifying an effective sectional shape in In-Situ Consolidation process. Furthermore, this application has advanced to a novel design methodology defining reinforcement layout not as some feature extracted from dragonfly wings but as theoretical and mathematical disposition. This methodology allows composites cover to acquire excellent properties, namely lightness and stiffness combining themselves properly. Bionic structure with Voronoi patterns has potential for weight reduction replacing conventional composites aircraft structures.