Sailplane wing sectioning based on structural weight

Abstract

: High-performance sailplanes use large wingspans, and the wings are split into sections to allow ground transport, storing and maintenance. Sometimes more section variants are available, resulting in different overall sailplane wingspans. Regular wing sectioning nowadays consists of 4 sections, with considerable weight differences between the inner and the outer sections. The option to use 3-piece sectioning is reviewed and combined with 2 wingspan variants. The splitting location, based on the equal weight distribution among the sections, is calculated according to the wing weight distribution model. The following structural design provided a more accurate wing mass value and the weight distribution model. The original and the calculated weight distributions are compared and an improvement is suggested for later application.