Advanced Finite Element Analysis for the Skyhook- Boeing HLV Aircraft

Boeing and Skyhook International entered into an agreement whereby Boeing will design and build two prototypes of the new Skyhook HLV aircraft. This hybrid airship is intended to carry 40 tons of cargo 100 miles. Due to the flexible, non-linear nature of fabric airship envelopes, as well as the complexity of designing a hybrid airship, the internal loads model for this aircraft is being developed in Abaqus and will be solved non-linearly. Additionally, certain key technologies within Abaqus are being used in the early stages of aircraft development to help speed up the design process and improve accuracy.