Variational Analysis and Aerospace Engineering: Mathematical Challenges for Aerospace Design Contributions from a Workshop held at the School of Mathematics in Erice, Italy

This volume consists of papers presented at the Variational Analysis and Aerospace Engineering Workshop II held in Erice, Italy in September 2010 at the International School of Mathematics "Guido Stampacchia". The workshop provided a platform for aerospace engineers and mathematicians (from universities, research centers and industry) to discuss the advanced problems requiring an extensive application of mathematics. The presentations were dedicated to the most advanced subjects in engineering and, in particular to computational fluid dynamics methods, introduction of new materials, optimization in aerodynamics, structural optimization, space missions, flight mechanics, control theory and optimization, variational methods and applications, etc.

This book will capture the interest of researchers from both academia and industry.

PrandtlPlane Propelled with Liquid Hydrogen: A Preliminary Study.- Aeroacousto-elastic modelling for response analysis of helicopter rotors.- Numerical Investigation on Aeroelastic and Aeroacoustic Responses.- Crack Extension Energy Rate and Energetic Approaches in Elastic–Plastic Fracture Mechanics.-A Criterion for Ductile Crack Growth based on the Energy-Momentum Tensor.- Optimal location of support points in the Kirchhoff plate.- A Code for Shape Generation and Aerodynamic Design of Aircraft.- Design of solar powered unmanned biplanes for HALE missions.- The PrandtlPlane configuration: overview on possible applications to civil aviation.- The lifting system of a PrandtlPlane; Part 1: Design and analysis of a light alloy structural solution.- The Lifting System of a PrandtlPlane; Part 2: Preliminary Study on Flutter Characteristics.- The lifting system of a PrandtlPlane; Part 3: Structures made in composites.- Elastic structures in adhesion interaction.- Conceptual design of a very large PrandtlPlane freighter.- Mesh Adaptivity and Optimal Shape Design for Aerospace.- Numerical simulation of sailing boats: dynamics, FSI, and shape optimization.- On the Way to ACARE 2020 and Beyond. -Design problems of anisotropic structures: some recent results.- The warlike interest in impact theories.- Flight mechanics modeling of the Prandtl plane for conceptual and preliminary design.