A systematic approach to obtain optimized low-cost balsa wood structure subjected to the effects of uncertainties: A FEM approach

Lightweight structures are of paramount importance in engineering applications. Optimal designs combining various optimization techniques can maximize desired mechanical characteristics while minimizing undesired static or dynamic behaviors. However, these optimized structures usually have low safety factors, which makes it necessary to consider uncertainties in project design to ensure their reliability. This paper presents a systematic approach to quantify uncertainties in an optimized structural member of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wing used in remote sensing. The UAV wing structural member was optimized using the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm, and balsa wood, a lightweight and ecological material with high variability in mechanical properties, was used for its manufacture. To analyze the structural integrity of the UAV wing, the present study quantified parametric uncertainties in material properties and manufacturing processes using stochastic models. A probabilistic approach was adopted, which revealed a 37% reduction in the structure's safety coefficient. Various conclusions were drawn from this research, which highlights the importance of considering uncertainties in the design of optimized structures to ensure their reliability.