Variable Stiffness Wing Structures with Compliance for Aeroelastic Morphing
Abstract
Conformal shape adaptation of aerospace systems, widely known as morphing, offers the potential for achieving optimal performance across a wide range of operational conditions. This research project investigated different purely passive shape adaptation techniques for wings, exploiting the tailored behaviour resulting from structural components purposely undergoing elastic instability. This unconventional technique is the key to the unique mechanical characteristics of the proposed shape adaptation mechanisms, extending the capabilities of structural members beyond the mere load-carrying functionality. Morphing is achieved by leveraging the significantly different mechanical responses of structural components in the linear (pre-buckling) and in the nonlinear postbuckling regime. Our approach significantly differs from existing morphing techniques as it does neither require external actuators nor conventional discrete mechanisms to achieve shape adaptation, but relies on the external loads (air pressure) for actuation. The resulting purely passive shape adaptation has thus the potential of altering the aerodynamic shape when a specific load level is reached. Owing to the actuator-free design and to the lack of discrete elements, its long-term behaviour is not affected by otherwise common problems, such as energy consumption, friction, wear, need for lubrication and adjustments. The morphing techniques investigated in this project are primarily studied for passive load alleviation, exploiting the aerodynamic loads to achieve required variations in shape to reducing the lift and root bending moment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1077550
Entities
People
- Andres F Arrieta
- Paolo Ermanni