Morphing Trailing Edge Control Using Flexible Matrix Composite Actuators

Abstract

Controllable morphing spoiler concept is designed and fabricated using flexible matrix composite (FMC) actuators. In the FMC actuated spoiler concept, extensional actuators are embedded under top surface and contracting actuators are integrated under bottom surface to bend the spoiler tip downward. Both FMC actuators are fabricated using a custom designed filament winding system and also with braided sleeves to find appropriate actuator types for the spoiler concept. Three different spoiler prototypes with two actuators are fabricated and tested under different loading conditions to examine their performance capabilities. After analyzing the test results for these prototypes, a final spoiler model with ten FMC actuators is design, fabricated, and evaluated under various testing conditions. The test results show that the final spoiler model performs well under various pseudo aerodynamic loading conditions.

Design and simulative experiment of an innovative trailing edge morphing mechanism driven by artificial muscles embedded in skin

“…In this study, a contraction up to 26.8% was achieved, and experiment result shows that the morphing skin is capable of withstanding concentrated loads. Daewon Kim et al [19] developed a high performance actuation system for active spoiler trailing edge control using pressurized flexible matrix composites, and test results show that their design performs well under pseudo aerodynamic loading conditions. Both designs have achieved skin deformation under the help of pneumatic equipment, and they also show that this kind of compliant skin is capable of withstanding aerodynamic loads.…”

“…Several morphing concepts, such as Mission Adaptive Wing [1], Smart Wing Program [2], Mission Adaptive Compliant Wing [3] and a very recent Variable Camber Compliant Wing (VCCW) [4,5] concept by the Air Force Research Laboratory of the US, were proposed. The advantages of morphing wing technologies were addressed by wind tunnel and flight tests [6][7][8].…”

Effect of bladder wall thickness on miniature pneumatic artificial muscle performance

“…A set of miniature PAMs was fabricated from two commercially available bladder materials and a Bluestar Bluesil (V-330) silicone rubber bladder molded in-house 4 . The commercially available bladders were a latex surgical tubing with an outer diameter of 3.175 mm (0.125 in) and a thickness of 0.794 mm (0.031 in), and silicone tubing with an outer diameter of 3 mm (0.118 in) and a thickness of 0.5 mm (0.02 in).…”

“…PAMs were invented in the 1950s by McKibben for orthopedic use, and then commercialized by Bridgestone as the Rubbertuator in the 1980s [2]. PAMs have more recently been studied for aerospace applications including trailing edge flaps [3], morphing trailing edges [4], and morphing ailerons [5]. For robotics applications they exhibit controllable compliance, a low operating pressure and excellent static performance, making PAMs a safe actuator for human interaction.…”

Development of a Quasi-Static Span-Extending Blade Tip for a Morphing Helicopter Rotor

“…Although these advanced blade shapes are quasi-static, feasibility of dynamic shape changing skin technologies has been proven for onedimensional structures [11][12][13], and airfoil structures [14][15][16][17]. Additionally, recent advances in adaptive materials have led to a variety of schemes for on-blade actuation, such as adaptive twist of the rotor blade [18][19][20][21][22], trailing edge flaps [23][24][25][26][27][28], active camber control [29][30][31][32][33], active rotor span [34], and chord morphing [35].…”