On the Effectiveness of Active Aeroelastic Structures for Morphing Aircraft
RM Ajaj (University of Southampton), MI Friswell (Swansea University) & EI Saavedra Flores (Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile)
The Aeronautical Journal, Vol. 117, No. 1197, November 2013, paper number 3916, pp. 1165-1174.
Abstract
This note assesses the benefits of Active Aeroelastic Structures (AAS) in enhancing flight performance and control authority. A representative AAS concept, whose torsional stiffness and shear centre position can be altered depending on the instantaneous flight condition, is employed in the wing of a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. A multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) suite is used in this study. It turns out that AAS can be very effective when used for enhancing control authority of the vehicle but have limited benefits in terms of flight performance.
Paper Availability
This material has been published in the The Aeronautical Journal, Vol. 117, No. 1197, November 2013, paper number 3916, pp. 1165-1174, the only definitive repository of the content that has been certified and accepted after peer review. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Link to paper using doi: 10.1017/S0001924000008769
Link to paper on the journal website
The Aeronautical Journal