A morphing skin for an air vehicle structure, the skin being formed by a composite material which includes: a multiplicity of fibers, a matrix incorporating the fibers, and a thermo-sensitive material, such as a thermo-plastic. The thermo-sensitive material can be reversibly transitionable in response to a change in temperature, between (i) an ambient temperature mode in which the thermo-sensitive material is capable of transferring loads in the composite material, and (ii) a heated mode in which the ability of the thermo-sensitive material to transfer the loads is reduced. This can allow the stiffness of the skin to be temporarily reduced to enable the skin to be morphed into a different shape.
COMPOSITE MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR A MORPHING SKIN
FÜR VERFORMBARE HAUT GEEIGNETES VERBUNDSTOFFMATERIAL
MATÉRIAU COMPOSITE ADAPTÉ POUR UNE PEAU DE MORPHAGE
2019-02-06
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch