Abstract
Morphing wingtip technology could improve the reduction of the induced drag, fuel consumption, and take-off and landing distances in fixed wing configurations. We describe in this work a morphing winglet concept based on active inflatable honeycombs and Shape Memory Polymer Composite (SMPC) skins. The combination of the two materials and structural subsystems allow the winglet deployment, with a morphing skin able to withstand the aerodynamic loading, also through the use of distributed pneumatic muscle fibers. An actuation geometric and mechanical model that represents the morphing wingtip concept is developed and analyzed. A morphing wingtip prototype is also fabricated to demonstrate the kinematics and actuation of the concept. Experiments and simulations show agreement about the output angle/input pressure relationship necessary for the wingtip deployment.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 106541 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Aerospace Science and Technology |
Volume | 111 |
Early online date | 26 Jan 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11802076, No. 11632005), and ?the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities? (Grant No. HIT. NSRIF. 201822). J. Sun would also like to thank CSC (Chinese Scholarship Council) for funding his research work at the University of Bristol. FS is also grateful to the European Commission for the FP7-AAT-2012-RTD-L0-341509 MorpheElle project that provided the infrastructure logistics of the activities described in this paper.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11802076 , No. 11632005 ), and “the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities ” (Grant No. HIT. NSRIF. 201822 ). J. Sun would also like to thank CSC ( Chinese Scholarship Council ) for funding his research work at the University of Bristol. FS is also grateful to the European Commission for the FP7-AAT-2012-RTD-L0-341509 MorpheElle project that provided the infrastructure logistics of the activities described in this paper.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021