A method for identifying structural load share opportunities in aircraft powerplant configurations

Consequentially structural and thermal demands will increase on individual power plant components. Under current design practice the various sub-systems (for example: nacelle, inlet, thrust reverser, engine core casings and the pylon mounts) are designed independently to meet their individual specific functional requirements.

This results in inefficiencies in the overall system and a lack of understanding of how such structures behave as one unit. <br><br>With the application of bigger engines, the structural inefficiencies caused by current design practices may be magnified. To overcome this challenge, it is vital that all sub-systems contribute to the structural integrity and load carrying capacity of the overall powerplant system. This can only be achieved if the main structural components of the power plant are to be designed as a single structural unit: using the inherent load carrying capacity of the surrounding nacelle components to ‘share’ or relieve structural loading on the primary engine sub-system. <br><br>This research formulated and demonstrated a novel method for identifying optimal connection strategies between powerplant components for more efficient sharing of structural loads and improving engine structural performance.