Digital Twin Framework for Wind Tunnel-Based Aeroelastic Structure Evaluation

With the increasing complexity of modern aerospace structures, traditional wind tunnel testing is no longer sufficient for capturing the full dynamic behavior of aeroelastic systems. Digital Twin (DT) technology offers a promising solution by creating a real-time, virtual representation of physical systems that can adapt and evolve with data inputs. This paper presents a novel digital twin framework for evaluating aeroelastic structures within a wind tunnel environment. The framework integrates real-time sensor feedback, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and structural models to dynamically simulate and predict system behavior under aerodynamic loads. Experimental validation using a scale model shows enhanced prediction accuracy and adaptive behavior in response to physical perturbations. The proposed framework demonstrates the potential to revolutionize wind tunnel testing and structural analysis in aerospace engineering.