Reverse engineering methodology applied for the design of a light aircraft composite wheel cover. Numerical simulations for aerodynamic and structural analysis.

This paper presents the results of the research stage focused on applications of composite materials in aviation, carried on by an international team of European Project Semester students at the National Institute for Aerospace Research "Elie Carafoli" – INCAS, as Research Partner of the University POLTEHNICA of Bucharest, as Organizer and EUROPEAN PROJECT SEMESTER Provider. The study case is a light aircraft wheel cover. The objectives are set to the determination of the body geometry by reverse engineering techniques, modeling and numerical simulations for aerodynamics and structural analysis. A scale reduced demonstrator was obtained through 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]