Multi-objective genetic algorithm optimization of the fish bone active camber morphing airfoil

This work presents the development of an optimization code for the geometry of the Fish Bone Active Camber morphing airfoil concept, which has been under development at Swansea University. Employing highly anisotropic structural compliance from a biologically inspired architecture, the smooth, continuous camber change generated by this concept has been shown in previous work to provide significant reductions in drag over traditional trailing edge flaps across a wide range of operating lift coefficients. Therefore, if the concept could be shown to have comparable weight, actuation requirements, and service life, then it would be a promising alternative for the wide range of applications where trailing edge flaps are currently used or are planned to be used. These include fixed wing aircraft, active rotorcraft blades, wind turbines, tidal stream turbines, and other aero and hydrodynamic applications. The objective of this current research is to extend a previously developed fluid-structure interaction analysis into a useful tool for establishing, to a first order approximation, the weight, drag, and actuation energy requirements of an optimized Fish Bone Active Camber morphing airfoil at a specific operating condition. A multi-objective optimization scheme is therefore established using a Genetic Algorithm which optimizes the internal core structure and elastic skin of the morphing airfoil for the three objectives of minimizing the added mass, the actuation energy requirement, and the operating drag coefficient required to achieve a design lift coefficient at a specified chord, angle of attack, and Mach number. Some initial results are shown which give Pareto fronts for the three objectives.