TY - GEN
T1 - Variable wing span using the Compliant Spar concept
AU - Ajaj, Rafic M.
AU - Friswell, Michael I.
AU - Saavedra Flores, Erick I.
AU - Isikveren, Askin T.
AU - Chaouk, Hamdi
N1 - Funding Information:
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013) / ERC Grant Agreement n. [247045]. E.I. Saavedra Flores acknowledges the support of the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Santiago, Chile.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - This paper develops and models the Compliant Spar concept that allows the wing span to be varied to provide roll control and enhance the operational performance for a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. The wing semispan is split into morphing partitions and the concept maybe incorporated in each partition; however only the tip partition is considered here. The Compliant Spar is made of compliant joints arrange in series to allow the partition to be flexible under axial (spanwise) loads but at the same time stiff enough to resist bending loads. Each compliant joint consists of two concentric overlapping Aluminium (AL) 2024-T3 tubes joined together using elastomeric material. Under axial (spanwise) loading, the elastomeric material deforms in shear allowing the overlapping distance between the tubes to vary and hence the length (in the spanwise direction) of the joint/spar to vary. High fidelity modelling of the concept is performed. Then, multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) studies are performed to minimise the axial stiffness and the structural mass of the concept for various design constraints. The flexible skin and actuation system to be used are also addressed.
AB - This paper develops and models the Compliant Spar concept that allows the wing span to be varied to provide roll control and enhance the operational performance for a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. The wing semispan is split into morphing partitions and the concept maybe incorporated in each partition; however only the tip partition is considered here. The Compliant Spar is made of compliant joints arrange in series to allow the partition to be flexible under axial (spanwise) loads but at the same time stiff enough to resist bending loads. Each compliant joint consists of two concentric overlapping Aluminium (AL) 2024-T3 tubes joined together using elastomeric material. Under axial (spanwise) loading, the elastomeric material deforms in shear allowing the overlapping distance between the tubes to vary and hence the length (in the spanwise direction) of the joint/spar to vary. High fidelity modelling of the concept is performed. Then, multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) studies are performed to minimise the axial stiffness and the structural mass of the concept for various design constraints. The flexible skin and actuation system to be used are also addressed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880814742&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2514/6.2013-1451
DO - 10.2514/6.2013-1451
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84880814742
SN - 9781624102233
T3 - 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference
BT - 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
T2 - 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
Y2 - 8 April 2013 through 11 April 2013
ER -