Control of a Flapping Plate Shape with Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composites

Abstract

The subject of this paper is part of a larger project where plates subjected to oscillatory heave motion will undergo active reconfiguration, or controlled shape change, to better understand complex fluid structure interactions. The plates will be placed in water near a free surface interface. In this paper, Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composites (F2MC) are explored as an option for active reconfiguration. To assist in designing future panels, both Euler-Bernoulli beam and Timoshenko beam models were used to estimate the plate deflections due to shape change actuation. The F2MC loads were modeled as both a concentrated tip moment and a distributed moment for the Euler-Bernoulli model and as a distributed moment in the Timoshenko model. A plate panel was then constructed with Dragon Skin Silicone with embedded F2MC tubes to validate the models. It was found that the Euler-Bernoulli beam model better predicted the experimental results when the F2MC forces were modeled as concentrated tip moments in both air and under water. Oscar Johansson is a senior undergraduate student studying Ocean Engineering in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is set to graduate with a B.S. in Ocean Engineering in 2023. Oscar will then continue his studies in the Fall of 2023 towards a Master's degree in Ocean Engineering. He currently serves as the Head of Design for the Human Powered Submarine Team at Virginia Tech. Oscar also worked at Newport News Shipbuilding where he worked on future aircraft carrier concept designs. He is a student member of AIAA. Blake Armstrong is an undergraduate researcher in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blake is currently enrolled at Virginia Tech studying Aerospace Engineering, with an expected graduation in 2024. He is currently employed with The Boeing Company, in the Accelerated Leadership Program, and is working on the 787 Dreamliner family. Prior to his current position, Blake worked at Mathnasium (2019-2021) as a Math Instructor. Christine Gilbert is an associate professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dr. Gilbert received her PhD from the University of Maryland in Mechanical Engineering in 2012. Prior to her appointment at Virginia Tech, Dr. Gilbert has worked at the U.S. Naval Academy (assistant research professor, 2012 to 2014) and the University of New Orleans (tenure track assistant professor, 2014 to 2016). Dr Gilbert has received both the ONR Young Investigator Award (YIP, 2015) and the NSF CAREER award (2020). She is a member of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics and AIAA.