On morphing wing for roll augmentation via material fitness using surrogate modelling

Abstract

This research is concerned with the design and analysis of a multi-camber morphing wing that meets prescribed aerodynamic configurations according to the design intent. A global optimisation paradigm is used towards morphing wing that interlinks aerodynamic enhancement via material fitness and efficient structural shape optimisation. A heuristic approach is proposed in this work that combines both airfoil and wing-morphing derivations. Based on non-linear structural solutions, the flexible airfoils allow multiple shape changes through an array of cambers, so that prescribed flow improvements can be achieved. The heuristic argument is then extended towards global shape control of three-dimensional wings with the remit to enhance roll control. The design paradigm employs a hierarchical strategy interleaving model parametrisation with structural optimisation into the aerodynamic analysis; and, in conjunction with global approximation technique, roll augmentation is investigated whilst total drag is minimised.