Supermarine Spitfire Wing Modeling
Elijah Hinton
OVERVIEW
This project modeled the Supermarine Spitfire’s elliptical wing in Mathematica to analyze its structural response under realistic aerodynamic loading. The simulation incorporated distributed lift, gravitational, and tip vortex loads while using energy methods to determine deflection and strain energy. The model was designed to be fully modular, allowing the number and placement of spars to be adjusted to evaluate their effect on overall structural stiffness and stability. This configurability enabled comparative studies between single-, dual-, and multi-spar wing configurations to assess structural efficiency.
HighlightS
- Developed a Mathematica-based modular framework for simulating wing structures with variable spar numbers and positions.
- Applied distributed load equations representing lift, gravity, and tip vortex effects along the elliptical span.
- Analyzed deflection, bending moments, and total strain energy using energy principles to assess stiffness variations between designs.
- Created visual plots of displacement and internal energy to demonstrate how spar configuration influences wing flexibility.
- Produced a detailed report connecting aerodynamic load distribution to structural design choices in historical and modern aircraft wings.
SKILLS
MathematicaStructural ModelingModular System DesignData VisualizationAerospace Structures
Elijah Hinton
Aerospace Engineering Student
I am an aerospace engineering student at Virginia Tech with hands-on experience in structural design, computational modeling, and manufacturing. I lead interdisciplinary teams on complex projects including amphibious seaplane design and orbital launch vehicles. My expertise spans CAD design, finite element analysis, composite materials, and rocket systems. I combine technical skills with strong leadership abilities, having mentored students and managed cross-functional engineering teams while maintaining a 3.49 GPA.
I am an aerospace engineering student at Virginia Tech with hands-on experience in structural design, computational modeling, and manufacturing. I lead interdisciplinary teams on complex projects including amphibious seaplane design and orbital launch vehicles. My expertise spans CAD design, finite element analysis, composite materials, and rocket systems. I combine technical skills with strong leadership abilities, having mentored students and managed cross-functional engineering teams while maintaining a 3.49 GPA.
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