The Active Aeroelastic Wing Flight Research Program - Technical program and model analytical development

Pendleton, Ed; Bessette, D.; Field, Pete; Miller, G.; Griffin, Kenneth

doi:10.2514/6.1998-1972

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In reviewing past morphing wing designs, there are four types of actuating systems to allow structural changes during shape morphing. They are hydraulically actuated (Monner et al 1998;Pendleton et al 2000;Li et al 2014), pneumatically actuated (Blondeau et al 2003;Poonsong 2004;Joo et al 2006) and servomotor actuated systems Han et al 2007;Grant et al 2010), and functionally actuated mechanisms (Chen et al 2000;Joo and Sanders 2009;Barbarino et al 2014). Interested readers are referred to the comprehensive review articles regarding the categorization of the actuating system in morphing aircraft (Sofla et al 2010;Barbarino et al 2011;Weisshaar 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Complete morphing wing design using flexible-rib system

Meguid

Wang

2015

Int J Mech Mater Des

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This study is concerned with the complete design, analysis, functional prototyping and flight testing of a novel morphing wing system for use in a relatively small (\10 kg) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To achieve improved flight performance with limited weight penalty, camber-adjustable morphing wing was designed using flexible servomotor-actuated mechanisms. The current design, which was originally conceptualized by Monner et al. (Smart structures and materials: industrial and commercial applications of smart structures technologies. Proceedings of SPIE 3326, pp 60-70, 1998), ensures that the airfoil shape of the wing is able to continuously morph between the non-cambered and the cambered configurations. The morphing function of the wing is achieved using a flexible-rib system driven by onboard servomotorrocker. This unique design of a flexible-rib assembly enables the airfoil of the wing to be accurately morphed to the target configuration. With the aid of aerodynamic and finite element analyses, the flexible rib assembly performance and structural integrity are evaluated and assessed. The design process was in compliance with aircraft design standards, including the Federal Aviation Regulations-Part 23. The functional prototype of the flexible rib morphingwing enabled UAV was manufactured and assembled and a test plane was ground tested. The success of the entire project, including flight testing of the flexible rib assembly is summarized in this paper.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Complete morphing wing design using flexible-rib system

Meguid

Wang

2015

Int J Mech Mater Des

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“…Only a short time after the Wright Brothers aircraft designers began almost exclusively using the simpler hinged aileron. Large manned projects like NASA's Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) [2] project brought renewed attention to the idea of morphing and the recent advances in unmanned aircraft testing has allowed many designs to be flight tested that would have been previously too expensive or dangerous like NextGen Aeronautics' MFX-1 [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and optimization of a morphing aileron control surface using FMC actuators

2014

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A process for the design and optimization of a morphing aileron using flexible matrix composite (FMC) actuators is developed. Design requirements were based on the use of a morphing aileron with an existing medium size commercial transport aircraft limiting the planform to the existing conventional aileron. The design uses two sets of contracting FMC actuators operating independently to actuate the deformable aileron in both trailing edge up and down cases while matching coefficient of lift values of a conventional aileron. The design was optimized by developing a series of response models which were then used to understand the sensitivity to material, geometric and loading design variables while minimizing required force from the FMC actuators. Using a combination of response models and sequential quadratic programming algorithm, a design is chosen that matched the conventional ailerons performance at multiple flight conditions.

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“…Recently, the use of AAS to enhance flight performance and enhance control authority and stealth characteristics for air vehicles has been under investigation in a number of research programmes and projects across the world. In the United States, both the active flexible wing (AFW) programme (Miller, 1988) and the active aeroelastic wing (AAW) programme (Clarke et al, 2005;Pendleton et al, 2000) investigated the use of flexible wing structures coupled with leading and trailing edge control surfaces. The structural deformations of an F/A-18 wing were manipulated in order to eliminate aileron reversal problems at large dynamic pressures and maximise the rolling performance according to design intent without using the horizontal tail to augment roll performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic modelling and actuation of the adaptive torsion wing

Ajaj

Friswell

Dettmer

et al. 2012

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures

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This article presents the dynamical modelling of a novel active aeroelastic structure. The adaptive torsion wing concept is a thin-wall, two-spar wingbox whose torsional stiffness can be adjusted by translating the spar webs in the chordwise direction inward and towards each other using internal actuators. The reduction in torsional stiffness allows external aerodynamic loads to induce twist on the structure and maintain its deformed shape. Here, the adaptive torsion wing system is considered as integrated within the wing of a representative unmanned aerial vehicle to replace conventional ailerons and provide roll control. The adaptive torsion wing is modelled as a two-dimensional equivalent aerofoil using bending and torsion shape functions to express the equations of motion in terms of the twist angle and plunge displacement at the wingtip. The full equations of motion for the adaptive torsion wing equivalent aerofoil were derived using Lagrangian mechanics. The aerodynamic lift and moment acting on the aerofoil were modelled using Theodorsen's unsteady aerodynamic theory. A low-dimensional, state-space representation of an empirical Theodorsen's transfer function was adopted to allow timedomain analyses. Four actuation strategies were investigated. Figures of merit, including plunge displacement, twist angle, actuation forces and actuation powers, were quantified and discussed for each of the scenarios. This study allows the conceptual design and sizing of the internal actuators that are required to drive the webs.

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The Active Aeroelastic Wing Flight Research Program - Technical program and model analytical development

Cited by 32 publications

References 3 publications

Complete morphing wing design using flexible-rib system

Complete morphing wing design using flexible-rib system

Design and optimization of a morphing aileron control surface using FMC actuators

Dynamic modelling and actuation of the adaptive torsion wing

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