Smart skin conformal load-bearing antenna and other smart structures developments

Abstract

Developmental research efforts are underway investigating the use of innovative materials and design methodologies to enhance aircraft performance. This research discipline is commonly referred to as smart structures and materials. In general terms, smart structures utilize conventional and smart materials to sense their operating environments, analyze the resulting information, and actuate the structure in response to the sensed input. Research in the smart structures arena may be further divided into three distinct components: smart skins, vibration suppression, and adaptive structures. All components share the common purpose of enhancing vehicle performance and/or eliminating structural dynamics problems associated with current and future aircraft. Under the smart skins specialty, the primary technology discussed is the embedment of radio frequency antenna elements within conformal load bearing structures such as aircraft wing and fuselage skins to improve avionics and structural performance while reducing airframe maintenance costs, weight, signature, and drag. The role of conformal load bearing antennas as a key facilitator for smart skins is presented hi some detail with projections for near term technology applications. The other key smart structures initiatives are also covered to complete the picture.