The field of Aeroelastics addresses the physical processes that occur during flow around elastic structures due to the interaction between aerodynamic and elastomechanical forces. Particularly in the case of highly elastic structures and high flow velocities, as is the case with aircraft, this interaction can lead to fluttering and mechanical overload and thus to dangerous consequences. For this reason, the most important task in aeroelastics is to design these structures in a dependable manner by using suitable methods and technologies.
The Institute conducts research in the fields of structural dynamics, unsteady aerodynamics, aeroelastic stability and dynamic loads.
The present day DLR Institute can trace its history back to the AVA Department for Unsteady Processes or the institute of the same name founded in 1939 in Göttingen. It was re-established in 1957 as the Department of Aeroelasticity and, after the AVA became part of DFVLR in 1972, became the Institute of Aeroelasticity.
