Tendon actuated cellular mechanisms for morphing aircraft wing

Smita Bharti, Mary I. Frecker, George A. Lesieutre, Jamie Browne

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Morphing aircraft wings offer great potential benefits of achieving multi mission capability as well as high maneuverability under different flight conditions. However, they present many design challenges in the form of conflicting design requirements. The current research aims to develop design methodologies for the design of a morphing aircraft wing. Focus of this work is on developing an internal mechanism of the wing that can produce the desired wing shape change. This paper presents a design methodology that employs planar unit cells of pre-determined shape and layout as the internal wing structure for achieving the desired wing shape change. This method is particularly useful in cases where the desired morphing is two-dimensional in nature. In such cases, intuitive cell designs such as diamond or hexagonal shaped cells may be used in layouts that achieve desired wing morphing. The shape change depends on the cell shape as well as cell arrangement in the design domain. In this paper, a design based on the TSCh wing (NextGen Aeronautics Inc.) using cellular mechanisms to achieve a two-dimensional wing shape change is discussed. Additionally, a reeling mechanism for achieving cable actuation is presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationModeling, Signal Processing, and Control for Smart Structures 2007
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
EventModeling, Signal Processing, and Control for Smart Structures 2007 - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 19 2007Mar 21 2007

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6523
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherModeling, Signal Processing, and Control for Smart Structures 2007
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period3/19/073/21/07

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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