Aero-structural Design Optimization of a Morphing Wingtip

Abstract

Over the past few years, better knowledge of aerodynamics and structures and the permanent need to improve the performance and efficiency of aircraft have led to the generalized adoption of wingtip devices. The requirements faced by wingtip devices throughout the various flight conditions are, however, different. A static wingtip device (as is the case with existing designs) must be a compromise of these various conflicting requirements, resulting in less than optimal effectiveness in each flight condition. A morphing device, on the other hand, can adapt to the optimum configuration for each flight condition, leading to improved effectiveness. This article presents a morphing wingtip mechanism based on a servo-actuated articulated winglet, able to rotate about two different axes: vertical axis (toe angle) and aircraft’s longitudinal axis (cant angle). These can be controlled independently by servo-actuators. The wingtip behavior is a function of aerodynamic and structural loads which, in turn, are interdependent, requiring a multidisciplinary design optimization procedure in order to determine the ideal wingtip configuration for each case. The proposed concept is applied to a multi-mission unmanned aerial vehicle and the results show that a morphing wingtip can outperform an optimum fixed design. The optimum geometries for the different flight missions are presented and the feasibility of such a morphing wingtip is confirmed by a prototype. The performance metrics of the morphing wingtip are compared to those of a fixed wingtip to quantify the gain associated with the use of the morphing concept and it is seen that the improvement can reach 25%.

Morphed Vertical Tailplane Assessment for Certification Requirements

“…The dynamics of the morphing wing have been addressed also in previous studies [16]. The aerodynamic improvements of a morphing wing tip have also been concluded [17].…”

Developing of Balancing Tools for Flight Controls

“…These tip appendages (blended winglet, tip fences, raked wing tip, and sharklet winglet) must achieve the goal of reducing induced drag; however, the requirements to be met by wing-tip devices throughout the various flight conditions are different. As outlined in Falcao et al (2010), a static wing-tip device must be a compromise of these various conflicting requirements, resulting in less than optimal effectiveness in each flight condition (e.g. little or great additional surface for low cruise parasite drag and high climb/descent performance, respectively).…”

“…little or great additional surface for low cruise parasite drag and high climb/descent performance, respectively). A morphing device, on the other hand, can adapt to the optimum configuration for each flight condition, leading to improved effectiveness (Falcao et al [1]). …”

Numerical simulation and wind tunnel tests investigation and validation of a morphing wing-tip demonstrator aerodynamic performance

“…Morphing wings were used to adapt the wing span and airfoil camber [4,5] or the winglet's cant and toe angles [6], and to replace conventional high-lift devices [7,8], or the conventional control surfaces [9].…”