Status and Challenges on Design and Implementation of Camber Morphing Mechanisms

Abstract

This paper presents state-of-the-art technologies of camber morphing mechanisms from the perspectives of design and implementation. Wing morphing technologies are aimed at making the aircraft more energy or aerodynamically efficient during flight by actively adjusting the wing shape, but their mechanism designs and implementation aspects are often overlooked from practical sense in many technical articles. Thus, it is of our interest that we thoroughly investigate morphing mechanisms and their nature of design principles and methodologies from the implementation and test flight aspects, navigate the trends, and evaluate progress for researchers’ methodology selection that possibly turns to design and build stages. This paper categorizes the camber morphing mechanisms from a wide collection of literature on morphing wings and their mechanisms, and the defined classifications are based on mechanism’s design features and synthesis methodology, i.e., by the tools and methods used to solve the design problem. The categories are (1) structure-based, (2) material-based, and (3) hybrid. Most of the structure-based camber morphing mechanisms have distinctive structural features; however, the material-based camber morphing mechanisms make use of material properties and tools to enhance the elastic nature of its structures. Lastly, the hybrid morphing mechanisms are a combination of both the aforementioned categories. In summary, this review provides researchers in the field of morphing mechanisms and wings with choices of materials, actuators, internal and external structure design for wings, and overarching process and design methodologies for implementation with futuristic and practical aspects of flight performance and applications. Moreover, through this critical review of morphing mechanism, selective design criteria for appropriate morphing mechanisms are discussed.

Homogenization Methods of Lattice Materials

“…One of most common applications of using homogenization methods is design and analysis of morphing or adaptive structures for aircraft design [47][48][49][50]. In particular, lattice structure for flexible as well as stiff skin structure for morphing wing is one of major applications [51][52][53]. Most works employ asymptotic homogenization methods as a strategy combined in the optimization procedure.…”

Honeycomb structure filling morphing wing trailing edge: Design strategy, deformation feedback, and active control

“…The field of aircraft design and aerospace engineering has continually sought new technologies and innovations to enhance flight performance, versatility, and efficiency. In this ever-evolving domain, morphing wing technologies (Li et al, 2018;Majid et al, 2021;Sivanandi et al, 2023) have played a pivotal role, given their potential significant advantages and adaptability in catering to diverse flight missions. Among these technologies, the variable trailing edge cambered wing has garnered substantial interest due to its capability to allow real-time adjustments in the wing's trailing edge during flight, thus optimizing flight performance (Schlup et al, 2021;Bishay et al, 2022).…”

“…The introduction of variable trailing edge cambered wing technology not only provides the possibility to improve lift and reduce drag characteristics but also imparts greater flexibility to aircraft (Arena et al, 2019), allowing seamless transitions between different flight missions (Majid et al, 2021;Binwen et al, 2022). Compared to other variable wing configurations, the variable trailing edge cambered wing presents several distinct advantages.…”

A three-dimensional constitutive equation for shape memory polymer composites considering energy dissipation under single loading–unloading condition

“…Thus, the deformation of the morphing skin in the various studies is limited to less than 10% of its original length. 4,5 Since the efficiency of the morphing wing increases as the length of the deformable skin increases, it is necessary to develop a skin that can be highly deformed and then return to its original shape. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are suitable for skin applications as they can sustain their deformed shapes and recover to their initial configurations by changing temperature.…”

“…Thus, the deformation of the morphing skin in the various studies is limited to less than 10% of its original length. 4,5 Since the efficiency of the morphing wing increases as the length of the deformable skin increases, it is necessary to develop a skin that can be highly deformed and then return to its original shape.…”