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Validation of the FLIGHTLAB virtual engineering toolset

Part of: Rotorcraft Virtual Engineering Conference 2016

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2018

R. W. Du Val  and
C. He
R. W. Du Val*
Affiliation:
Advanced Rotorcraft Technology, Inc, Sunnyvale, California, USA
C. He
Affiliation:
Advanced Rotorcraft Technology, Inc, Sunnyvale, California, USA
*
ron@flightlab.com
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Abstract

As simulation has become an integral part of the overall life-cycle support of aircraft, the need for effective Virtual Engineering (VE) tools to support these activities has increased. FLIGHTLAB is a state-of-the-art, aircraft modelling and simulation software tool, that has been designed to address this need and is widely used in rotorcraft design, analysis, test and evaluation, and full-flight simulation applications. This VE tool supports the development and analysis of both fixed and rotary wing aircraft with an extensive library of modelling components which have been successfully used and validated in numerous, real-world applications. These components provide comprehensive modelling of aerodynamic, structural, control and propulsion disciplines. Analyses include performance, dynamic response, stability and control, airloads, and structural loads. Graphical User Interfaces and an interactive scripting language provide user-friendly operation. This paper describes the capabilities and validation activities that have been undertaken to support the development of the commercial VE toolset FLIGHTLAB over the last 20 years and discusses future rotorcraft challenges that could be addressed by enhancements to current generation VE tools.

Keywords

Aerodynamicsaeroelasticityaerospace designflight simulationrotorcraftvirtual engineering

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 122 , Issue 1250 , April 2018 , pp. 519 - 555
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2018 

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Footnotes

This is a version of a paper first presented at the RAeS Virtual Engineering Conference held at Liverpool University, 8-10 November 2016.

References

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