Investigations are conducted to mechanize a controlled spanwise-varying airfoil camber change for a high aspect ratio wing, resulting in optimized aerodynamic performance for a aircraft that changes weight by 50% over its mission. Mechanisms to achieve these shape changes are designed based on two separate design methodologies: a rigid body kinematics approach and a compliant mechanism approach. A framework for optimizing mechanisms based on each approach is presented. Differences between the approaches are illustrated through the design of a mechanism for a specific set of airfoil shapes. Mechanisms are evaluated based on the error in the shapes and on the energy efficiency of the systems.
Conditions in hypersonic flight generate non-uniform temperature distributions that affect the performance and longevity of aircraft components. Historically, a limited amount of experimental work has been performed on the mechanical behaviour of reinforced aircraft structures subjected to very high temperatures. In this work on Hastelloy-X plates, non-contact techniques were used to measure the full-field temperature and deflection of a 1 mm thick plate with reinforced edges. The geometry was designed to emulate an aircraft's skin with the reinforced edges performing the function of stringers and ribs. High temperatures were achieved using quartz lamps arranged in various configurations with controllable power output. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to measure surface displacements and a micro-bolometer mapped the temperature distribution across the plate. Deflection results for the reinforced plate showed it to behave as a dynamic system that buckles out-of-plane when heated before relaxing to a steady state. It is demonstrated that the out-of-plane displacement field experienced by the plate is influenced both by the in-plane temperature gradient and the energy supplied.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.