Evaluación de materiales de alta disponibilidad para el rediseño estructural en un RPA X-8.
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Date
2026
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Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
En este trabajo se aborda la problemática de la sustitución de la fibra de carbono original estructural de un RPA X-8 por materiales de alta disponibilidad, manteniendo viabilidad estructural mediante adecuaciones geométricas menores. La metodología consiste en un proceso de caracterización del estado de carga más exigente en el componente crítico, obteniendo un comportamiento mecánico de referencia, para luego seleccionar iterativamente materiales candidatos en base a criterios mecánicos mínimos y disponibilidad, lo cual después culmina en una evaluación de desempeño estructural de forma analítica y por elementos finitos (FEM). Finalmente, se realizan ensayos experimentales de flexión que se comparan con ensayos de flexión simulados. Los resultados de este estudio indican que materiales como las aleaciones de aluminio o plásticos como filamentos 3D satisfacen los factores de seguridad impuestos, siendo la inercia de la sección una variable determinante para los requerimientos mecánicos reduciendo estos hasta en un 50%. Del contraste de factores de seguridad analítico y numérico se indica que el método computacional es mucho más conservador, con variaciones que llegan en el peor de los casos al 70%. De las comparaciones experimentales y numéricas para ensayos de flexión se obtienen variaciones menores en las rigideces estructurales resultando la estructura mucho más rígida que lo estimado por la información de referencia. Finalmente, se concluye que es factible sustituir la fibra de carbono por otros materiales de alta disponibilidad conservando integridad estructural, sin embargo, surgen otras aristas del problema tal como la problemática térmica.
This work addresses the problem of substituting the original carbon fiber of the structural arm of an X-8 RPA with highly available materials, maintaining structural viability through minor geometric adaptations. The methodology consists of characterizing the most demanding load state on the critical component to establish a reference mechanical behavior, followed by an iterative selection of candidate materials based on minimum mechanical criteria and availability. This process culminates in a structural performance evaluation using both analytical methods and finite element modeling (FEM). Finally, experimental bending tests are conducted and compared with simulated bending tests. The results of this study indicate that materials such as aluminum alloys or 3D printing plastic filaments satisfy the imposed safety factors. The cross-sectional inertia proved to be a determining variable for the mechanical requirements, reducing them by up to 50%. The comparison between analytical and numerical safety factors indicates that the computational method is significantly more conservative, with variations reaching up to 70% in the worst-case scenario. Experimental and numerical comparisons for the bending tests yielded minor variations in structural stiffness, demonstrating that the structure is considerably stiffer than estimated by the reference data. Finally, it is concluded that it is feasible to substitute the carbon fiber with other highly available materials while preserving structural integrity. However, other facets of the problema arise, such as the termal issue.
This work addresses the problem of substituting the original carbon fiber of the structural arm of an X-8 RPA with highly available materials, maintaining structural viability through minor geometric adaptations. The methodology consists of characterizing the most demanding load state on the critical component to establish a reference mechanical behavior, followed by an iterative selection of candidate materials based on minimum mechanical criteria and availability. This process culminates in a structural performance evaluation using both analytical methods and finite element modeling (FEM). Finally, experimental bending tests are conducted and compared with simulated bending tests. The results of this study indicate that materials such as aluminum alloys or 3D printing plastic filaments satisfy the imposed safety factors. The cross-sectional inertia proved to be a determining variable for the mechanical requirements, reducing them by up to 50%. The comparison between analytical and numerical safety factors indicates that the computational method is significantly more conservative, with variations reaching up to 70% in the worst-case scenario. Experimental and numerical comparisons for the bending tests yielded minor variations in structural stiffness, demonstrating that the structure is considerably stiffer than estimated by the reference data. Finally, it is concluded that it is feasible to substitute the carbon fiber with other highly available materials while preserving structural integrity. However, other facets of the problema arise, such as the termal issue.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a Civil Aeroespacial.
Keywords
Drones, Materiales Análisis, Flexibilidad (Mecánica)