Aerodynamic performance of corrugated skins for spanwise wing morphing

James H.S. Fincham, Rafic M. Ajaj, Michael I. Friswell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aircraft designed to fly a wide mission range will have their design compromised so that they can meet all mission requirements. There has been continued interest in morphing aircraft in recent years. These proposed morphing systems allow for aircraft to undergo large-scale planform shape changes, such that they adopt the optimum shape for the given mission phase. An aircraft that can change wingspan could operate with high aerodynamic efficiency at cruise, due to a large aspect ratio wing. Upon retraction of the wingspan, higher manoeuverability is gained. For a span-changing aircraft, the wing skins must also change geometry with the span change. One proposed type of skin to do this is a corrugated skin, which displays high anisotropy in stifiness, allowing it to take significant aerodynamic pressure loading, whilst being compliant in the spanwise direction to allow for wing morphing. The method of corrugation used produces sharp leading edges, and so different methods for rounding of the leading edge are examined to determine whether lost aerodynamic performance can be recovered. These are analysed first in 2D, and then the simulations are extended to 3D to determine the effects of corrugation wavelength in the spanwise direction, and the effect of corrugation depth. It is found that the leading edge profile can greatly impact performance, that corrugation wavelength has only a minimal effect on aerodynamic efficiency, and finally that corrugation depth can incur a significant performance penalty.

Original languageBritish English
Title of host publicationAIAA AVIATION 2014 -14th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventAIAA AVIATION 2014 -14th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference 2014 - Atlanta, GA, United States
Duration: 16 Jun 201420 Jun 2014

Publication series

NameAIAA AVIATION 2014 -14th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference

Conference

ConferenceAIAA AVIATION 2014 -14th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta, GA
Period16/06/1420/06/14

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