This work explores the interdependencies between the topological design of a compliant flapping mechanism and that of a flight-loaded elastic membrane-wing skeleton. This is done via a monolithic aeroelastic framework that encompasses the compliant-mechanism deformation, the motion of a flexible wing, and the transmission of aerodynamic and inertial forces back into the mechanism. A cellular-based evolutionary topology optimization scheme is used for mechanism design, wing design, or both simultaneously. The latter approach is shown to provide superior performance as this allows the tightly coupled nature of the two structures to be fully exploited. The results presented here also demonstrate potential issues that arise during wing design if the flapping kinematics are assumed to be prescribed. Finally, the mechanism topology is further improved via a gradient-based sizing/shape optimization to decrease actuator requirements as well as the time-dependent elastic stresses.


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    Title :

    Simultaneous Topology Optimization of Membrane Wings and Their Compliant Flapping Mechanisms


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    AIAA Journal ; 51 , 6 ; 1431-1441


    Publication date :

    2013-06-01




    Type of media :

    Conference paper , Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





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    Stanford, Bret / Beran, Philip / Kobayashi, Marcelo | AIAA | 2012


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    Stanford, B. / Beran, P. / Kobayashi, M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012



    Conceptual Design of Compliant Mechanisms for Flapping Wings with Topology Optimization

    Stanford, B. / Beran, P. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010