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Investigation of a novel morphing skin concept
Morphing wings use a combination of materials, actuators, and structures to overcome many disadvantages attributed to conventional wings. With the goal of developing more efficient aircraft wings, different morphing concepts have been developed at CMAS Lab. Variable camber morphing is used to adjust the generated lift distribution of a wing, thereby enabling to control the local lift and therefore the overall lift distribution. By achieving aerodynamically optimal deformed airfoil shapes, and by using a compliant skin without any gaps in the surface, typical for conventional aircraft, the drag of the airfoil can be minimized, improving the wing’s aerodynamic efficiency. In order to enable such deformations, part of the wing skin needs to be able to adjust its length.
Keywords: Morphing skins, Aerodynamics and Structures, Flexible Skins, Experimental work
In previous CMASLab concepts a corrugation was utilized to achieve skin length changes. A possible concept, which retains the beneficial characteristics of a length-changing skin, is similar to a metal lath. The structure is made of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), which can be exploited for its anisotropic behaviour. The structure’s mechanical properties, such as the maximum strain, axial compliance, and bending stiffness can be tailored by varying the size and shape of the geometry of the cut-out. Therefore, the structure can be adapted for specific needs by adjusting various geometrical and material parameters.
A Fibre Reinforced Polymer lath structure potentially has a multitude of benefits, compared to similar concepts. In comparison to a corrugation, the aerodynamic drag is much lower, while permitting to achieve large in-plane strains. In combination with elastomers, the skin can achieve benefits in terms of aerodynamic shape and achieveable strains.
In previous CMASLab concepts a corrugation was utilized to achieve skin length changes. A possible concept, which retains the beneficial characteristics of a length-changing skin, is similar to a metal lath. The structure is made of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), which can be exploited for its anisotropic behaviour. The structure’s mechanical properties, such as the maximum strain, axial compliance, and bending stiffness can be tailored by varying the size and shape of the geometry of the cut-out. Therefore, the structure can be adapted for specific needs by adjusting various geometrical and material parameters.
A Fibre Reinforced Polymer lath structure potentially has a multitude of benefits, compared to similar concepts. In comparison to a corrugation, the aerodynamic drag is much lower, while permitting to achieve large in-plane strains. In combination with elastomers, the skin can achieve benefits in terms of aerodynamic shape and achieveable strains.
The goal of this thesis is to develop, manufacture and evaluate the combination of the FRP lath structure and elastomers. The challenges for this work mainly are the definition of a favourable shape and geometry, and the investigation of favourable manufacturing techniques, combining the fibre materials with polymers and elastomers.
The goal of this thesis is to develop, manufacture and evaluate the combination of the FRP lath structure and elastomers. The challenges for this work mainly are the definition of a favourable shape and geometry, and the investigation of favourable manufacturing techniques, combining the fibre materials with polymers and elastomers.