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In this paper, both experimental and analytical flutter analyses are conducted for a typical 5-degree of freedon (5DOF) wing section carrying a flexibly mounted unbalanced engine. The wing flexibility is simulated by two torsional and longitudinal springs at the wing elastic axis. One flap is attached to the wing section by a torsion spring. Also, the engine is connected to the wing by two elastic joints. Each joint is simulated by a spring and damper unit to bring the model close to reality. Both the torsional and longitudinal motions of the engine are considered in the aeroelastic governing equations derived from the Lagrange equations. Also, Peter’s finite state model is used to simulate the aerodynamic loads on the wing. Effects of various engine parameters such as position, connection stiffness, mass, thrust and unbalanced force on the flutter of the wing are investigated. The results show that the aeroelastic stability region is limited by increasing the engine mass, pylon length, engine thrust and unbalanced force. Furthermore, increasing the damping and stiffness coefficients of the engine connection enlarges the stability domain.

Even though AI technology is a relatively new discipline, many of its concepts have already found practical applications. Expert systems, in particular, have made significant contributions to technologies in such fields as business, medicine, engineering design, chemistry, and particle physics.

This paper describes an expert system developed to aid mechanical engineering designers in the preliminary design of variable-stroke internal-combustion engines. Variable-stroke engines are more economical in fuel consumption but their design is particularly difficult to accomplish. With the traditional design approach, synthesizing the mechanisms for the design is rather difficult and evaluating the mechanisms is an even more cumbersome and time-consuming effort. Our expert system assists the designer by generating and evaluating a large number of design alternatives represented in the form of graphs. Through the application of structural and design rules obtained from design experts to the graphs, good quality preliminary design configurations of the engines are promptly deduced. This approach can also be used in designing other types of mechanisms.