Comparative Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Camber Morphing and Conventional Airfoils

Tuba Majid,Bruce W Jo

doi:10.3390/app112210663

Abstract

This paper aims to numerically validate the aerodynamic performance and benefits of variable camber rate morphing wings, by comparing them to conventional ones with plain flaps, when deflection angles vary, assessing their D reduction or L/D improvement. Many morphing-related research works mainly focus on the design of morphing mechanisms using smart materials, and innovative mechanism designs through materials and structure advancements. However, the foundational work that establishes the motivation of morphing technology development has been overlooked in most research works. All things considered, this paper starts with the verification of the numerical model used for the aerodynamic performance analysis and then conducts the aerodynamic performance analysis of (1) variable camber rate in morphing wings and (2) variable deflection angles in conventional wings. Finally, we find matching pairs for a direct comparison to validate the effectiveness of morphing wings. As a result, we validate that variable camber morphing wings, equivalent to conventional wings with varying flap deflection angles, are improved by at least 1.7% in their L/D ratio, and up to 18.7% in their angle of attack, with α = 8° at a 3% camber morphing rate. Overall, in the entire range of α, which conceptualizes aircrafts mission planning for operation, camber morphing wings are superior in D, L/D, and their improvement rate over conventional ones. By providing the improvement rates in L/D, this paper numerically evaluates and validates the efficiency of camber morphing aircraft, the most important aspect of aircraft operation, as well as the agility and manoeuvrability, compared to conventional wing aircraft.

Highlights

The term morphing is from “metamorphosis” and means a change of the form, or nature of a thing, or a person, into a completely different one by natural or supernatural means [1]
The profiles clarity, only those configurations that match the profiles of morphing configurations or deflected airfoil configurations, over a range of α from 0° to 15°
Comparative numerical analysis has been are designed for—fly in flight conditions around this range so it is worthwhile to investiconducted between airfoils with a varying camber rate and a varying flap deflection gate the benefits of morphing in this flight condition

Summary

Introduction

The term morphing is from “metamorphosis” and means a change of the form, or nature of a thing, or a person, into a completely different one by natural or supernatural means [1]. If the concept of morphing in wings is broadly defined, control surfaces in conventional aircrafts could be included; morphing wings typically refer to active, continuous, and more substantial changes in the wing structures from its initial design stage. Whereas conventional wing aircrafts manoeuvre and change their flight dynamics by changing the deflection angles of various control surfaces such as flaps, aileron, elevator, rudder, and so on, as well as the wing area by expanding chord lengths, the concept of morphing wing aircraft relies on irregular changes of wing structures including changes in airfoil thickness, camber, span lengths, sweep angles, span bend, and twist as depicted in Figure 1 [2].

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