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Journals / Tarım Makinaları Bilimi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 22

Strength-Based Design Assessment of an Additively Manufactured Pusher-Duct Support Bracket for a Novel UAV Prototype Applicable to Agricultural Use

Tarımsal Uygulamalara Uygun Yeni Nesil Bir İHA Prototipi İçin Katmanlı İmalatla Üretilmiş İtici Kanal Destek Braketinin Dayanıma Dayalı Tasarım Analizi

H. Kürşat Çelik(AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-8154-6993
M. Ali Erbil(The University of Southampton)0000-0002-3751-3884
Allan E. W. Rennie(Lancaster University)0000-0003-4568-316X
İbrahim Akıncı(AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-0057-0930
Pages
15–31
Publication Date
2026-03-31
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

While the additively manufactured bracket performs safely under critical loading, reinforcing fastener flanges and applying topological optimisation could improve stress distribution and achieve mass reduction without compromising structural integrity.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly deployed in defence, surveillance, and precision agriculture, requiring lightweight yet robust structural components capable of withstanding demanding operational conditions.
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Key Findings & Data:FEA revealed the maximum von Mises equivalent stress as 14.951 MPa at fastener locations, with peak deformation of 0.378 mm at the front tip.
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Conclusion & Impact:While the additively manufactured bracket performs safely under critical loading, reinforcing fastener flanges and applying topological optimisation could improve stress distribution and achieve mass reduction without compromising structural integrity.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İnsansız Hava Araçları (İHA) · Braket Tasarımı · Tasarım Analizi

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly deployed in defence, surveillance, and precision agriculture, requiring lightweight yet robust structural components capable of withstanding demanding operational conditions. Ensuring the strength and reliability of additively manufactured support brackets is critical for UAV integrity. The aim of this study is to investigate the structural response of a pusher duct support bracket, designed for integration into a next-generation UAV prototype, under critical loading conditions. The investigation focused on bracket deformation during the UAV’s immediate take-off phase, considered one of the most severe mechanical scenarios. A CAD/CAE-based workflow was adopted, integrating numerical simulation techniques. A parametric solid model of the bracket was created, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using SolidWorks Simulation was employed to assess stress distribution and deformation. FEA revealed the maximum von Mises equivalent stress as 14.951 MPa at fastener locations, with peak deformation of 0.378 mm at the front tip. The minimum Factor of Safety (FoS) was 1.739 at the flange of the front fastener, while other regions exhibited considerably higher FoS values. These findings demonstrate that the bracket is structurally adequate for its intended application, although stress concentrations remain evident. While the additively manufactured bracket performs safely under critical loading, reinforcing fastener flanges and applying topological optimisation could improve stress distribution and achieve mass reduction without compromising structural integrity.

Özet

İnsansız hava araçları (İHA’lar), savunma, gözetleme ve hassas tarım gibi alanlarda giderek daha yaygın biçimde kullanılmaktadır. Bu araçların, zorlu işletme koşullarına dayanabilecek hafif ancak yüksek mukavemetli yapısal bileşenler kullanılarak tasarlanması gerekmektedir. Bunun için karbon fiber içerikli malzemelerin kullanıldığı katmanlı imalat (AM: Additive Manufacturing) yöntemiyle üretilen destek elemanları iyi bir alternatif olarak görülmektedir. Ancak bu tip elemanların dayanım ve güvenilirliğinin sağlanması, İHA sistem bütünlüğü açısından kritik öneme sahip olmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yeni nesil bir İHA prototipine entegrasyon için tasarlanan bir itici kanal destek braketinin kritik yükleme koşulları altındaki yapısal davranışını incelemektir. Çalışma özellikle İHA’nın kalkış anında en şiddetli mekanik yükleme senaryolarından biri olarak değerlendirilen yüklenme durumunda ortaya çıkan brakete ait yapısal gerilme dağılımlarına ve deformasyona odaklanmaktadır. Çalışmada sayısal simülasyon tekniklerini içeren Bilgisayar Destekli Tasarım/Mühendislik (CAD/CAE: Computer-Aided Design/Engineering) tabanlı bir iş akışı benimsenmiştir. Braketin üç boyutlu parametrik katı modeli oluşturulmuş ve gerilme dağılımı ile deformasyon davranışını değerlendirmek amacıyla SolidWorks Simulation yazılımı kullanılarak Sonlu Elemanlar Analizi (FEA: Finite Element Analysis) gerçekleştirilmiştir. FEA sonuçları, bağlantı elemanları bölgelerinde en yüksek von Mises eşdeğer gerilmesinin 14.951 MPa olduğunu ve en yüksek deformasyonun braketin ön uç noktasında 0.378 mm olarak meydana geldiğini göstermiştir. En düşük Güvenlik Katsayısı (FoS: Factor of Safety) değeri ön bağlantı flanşında 1.739 olarak hesaplanmış; diğer bölgelerde ise belirgin biçimde daha yüksek FoS değerleri gözlemlenmiştir. Tüm nihai değerlendirmeler neticesinde, katmanlı imalat yöntemiyle üretilen braketin kritik yükleme koşulları altında güvenli bir performans sergilediği, bununla birlikte, bağlantı flanşlarının güçlendirilmesi ve topolojik optimizasyon yöntemlerinin uygulanmasıyla, yapısal bütünlükten ödün vermeden gerilme dağılımının iyileştirilmesi ve kütlenin azaltılması mümkün görünmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Çelik, H. K., Erbil, M. A., Rennie, A. E. W., Akıncı, İ. (2026). Strength-Based Design Assessment of an Additively Manufactured Pusher-Duct Support Bracket for a Novel UAV Prototype Applicable to Agricultural Use. Tarım Makinaları Bilimi Dergisi, Cilt: 22, 15–31. https://ajindex.com/articles/1276900

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