On the Use of Adaptive Internal Structures For Wing Shape Control

Abstract

This paper describes part of a research programme investigating the dev elopment of “adap tive intern al structures” concepts to enable active aeroelastic control of aerospace structures. A number of different concepts have been considered as part of the EU funded Active Aeroelastic Aircraft Structures (3AS) project that allow the bending and torsional stiffness of aircraft wings to be controlled through changes in the internal aircraft structure. The aeroelastic behaviour, in particular static bending and twist deflections, can be controlled through changes in the posit ion, orientation and stiffness of the spars. In this paper, finite element models ar e used to explore the use of rotating spars to vary structural stiffness, thus adjust ing the static aeroelastic wing twist and bending shape, and thus altering the lift an d drag properties . The effect on the flutter characteristics is also explored. A number of experimental studies of the concepts are also described.