As part of the 'Advanced Aircraft Structures Program', feasibility studies of different structural concepts of active wings have been performed. These studies have revealed significant problems related to system complexity and functionality under environmental conditions and severe problems combined with the development of adequate materials. Recently, aerodynamic investigations of adaptive deformable aircraft structures on a scale model of an actual aircraft have been performed with aerodynamic CFD simulations and wind tunnel tests on a complete aircraft model with different shapes of the wing trailing edge. The aerodynamic investigations have shown a considerable drag reduction. Novel concepts are now under investigation which might lead to a promising way ahead. One of this concept uses transversal actuators (patent pending) which are distributed in the aircraft skin. Detailed analysis of this approach have shown the potential and viability of this approach. Especially it could be shown that the expected weight increase of the adaptive wing structure including actuators is lower than the achieved overall weight decrease ofthe airplane due to the reduced drag.
Structural concepts for morphing wing
Strukturkonzepte für formvariable Flügelhinterkanten
2004
4 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 5 Quellen
Conference paper
English