Abstract
Morphing technology, inspired by bat and bird flight can enable an aircraft to adapt its shape to enhance mission performance and optimize flight attitude controlling efficiency. A morphing airfoil concept is proposed to replace the traditional flap, ailerons, elevator and rudders in order to improve aerodynamic efficiency in this paper. A procedure is used to virtually simulate a morphing wing to perform fast, relatively accurately and efficiently. A set of optimal airfoil shapes obtained are aimed at minimizing the aerodynamic drag character by optimizing morphing configurations at different Cl under the twodimensional steady-flow simulation. These airfoil shapes are used to maneuver flight attitude, minimize drag and take place of traditional control surfaces of different rolling, yawing and pitching moment. Then, the basic relationships between optimized morphing airfoil and the traditional control element on rolling, pitching and yawing moment are simplified to the relationship of Cl. The morphing airfoil shapes at different Cl are represented. The configuration of traditional airfoil and morphing airfoil at different Cl are compared. It is proved that morphing wing can be used to take the place of a traditional wing.
Highlights
Since the Wright brothers’ first successful flight, aircraft designers have been focusing on improving the aircraft flight efficiency, and especially airline companies are anxious to improve the commercial aircraft efficiency nowadays
In order to test whether the morphing airfoil can take the place of the traditional flap, the Cd of the traditional control surface and the morphing wing will be compared at different Cl
A set of morphing airfoil shapes are optimized to get the best Lift-to-drag ratio based on different Cl at different angle of attack and angle of traditional hinged control surfaces of a confirmed airfoil
Summary
Since the Wright brothers’ first successful flight, aircraft designers have been focusing on improving the aircraft flight efficiency, and especially airline companies are anxious to improve the commercial aircraft efficiency nowadays. Morphing wing technology can be used to control flow on aircraft wing [2], change the deform of shock wave [3], deform the shape of aircraft wing to make the aircraft be the most efficient at different flight speed [4], control the aircraft roll by twisting a flexible wing on a fullsize aircraft [5] and improve the aerodynamic and aero elastic performance of military aircraft [6] to [11]. The new advances in morphing technology allow aircraft performance to be further increased by obtaining the optimal aircraft configurations at different flight attitude [28] and stages [29]. The aerodynamic characters of optimal morphing airfoils and traditional hinged control surfaces (which can be used in flaps, ailerons, elevating and yawing rudders) are compared. Some conclusions are addressed with comments on the benefits and drawbacks of the morphing airfoil concept
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Strojniški vestnik – Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
