Currently Collier Research is evaluating the performance of many panel concepts for highly loaded, commercial transport wingbox structures. Software development is taking place as well as many new commercial contracts to further the effort. Simultaneously the HyperSizer® commercial software is being used world-wide on many commercial aircraft for the analysis and design sizing of composite and metallic aircraft structures. This paper focuses on trade studies performed on an aircraft wingbox structure. The wingbox is modeled after a commercial transport jet. The loads on the upper and lower wing skin surface are axially compression paired with high shear loading caused by wing twist. Weight trends are quantified considering all possible design possibilities in order to determine the most structurally efficient combination of composite layups and panel cross section dimensions to achieve the lightest weight. Included are results obtained with HyperSizer for Metallic Integral Blade and Bonded Zee Stiffened panel concepts as well as Composite Hat and Tee Stiffened panel concepts. The HyperSizer optimum designs have scored based on the weight maturity level (WML) of the panel design. The study shows the composite hat stiffened panel is the lightest concept for a wingbox structure and is 30% lighter than the lightest metallic design.
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