Low energy actuation technique of bistable composites for aircraft morphing

Nicassio, Francesco; Scarselli, Gianfranco; Pinto, Fulvio; Ciampa, Francesco; Iervolino, Onorio; Meo, Michele

doi:10.1016/j.ast.2017.12.040

Cited by 75 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Table 4 lists the speeds at which the snap through occurred: the stable state 1 (in both the configurations) was the most suitable to withstand the aerodynamic external pressure, whereas the stable state 2-UP configuration suffered negative AOAs and the stable state 2-DOWN configuration suffered positive AOAs, i.e., snapping without external activation. This result was consistent with the static characterization of the bistable plates reported in [15] where it is experimentally shown that the stable state 1 is stiffer (i.e., requires more energy for the transition to the other state) than stable state 2. In conclusion, the proposed morphing concept passed the wind tunnel test, showing significant aerodynamic withstanding at AOAs and flight speeds that are typical of the size of the employed UAV.…”

Section: Conflicts Of Interestsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The commercial software ANSYS ® (Transient Structural Module, version 2019 R3, Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) was used [30]. To create the bistable stabilizer (for replacing the conventional one in Figure 2), a bistable rectangular plate with an AR of 2 (80 mm × 160 mm) was simulated by stacking four laminae following a (0 2 /90 2 ) sequence and exploiting the "lever effect" [15]: the leverage amplifies the input force to provide a bigger output effect. The ratio of the output force to the input is the mechanical advantage of the lever.…”

Section: Fe Simulations and Manufacturing Of Bistable Platesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to these applications, UAVs provide an ideal platform for exploring and developing innovative solutions in the aeronautical engineering since the risk level is acceptable at this scale, and they have more manageable fabrication and less operational costs [15]. One example of this is the emergent idea of a morphing concept applied to aircraft lifting surfaces, which is the focus of this work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wang in [25] demonstrated that a morphing bistable composite structure could be produced, based on the principles of viscoelastically generated prestress: a composite plate structure was created in order to snap into one of two cylindrical states. In [26] guidelines were proposed to design a morphing unsymmetric panel/actuator assembly, while in [15] a passive mobile surface with a bistable plate was presented. In the latter paper, the bistable morphing surface was activated using a proper configuration of constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simulation and Test of Discrete Mobile Surfaces for a RC-Aircraft

Nicassio

Scarselli

2019

Aerospace

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Morphing structures suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been investigated for several years. This paper presents a novel lightweight, morphing concept based on the exploitation of the “lever effect” of a bistable composite plate that can be integrated in an UAV horizontal tail. Flight dynamics equations are solved in Simulink environment, thus being able to simulate and compare different flight conditions with conventional and bistable command surfaces. Subsequently, bistable plates are built by using composite materials, paying particular attention to dimensions, asymmetric stacking sequence and total thickness needed to achieve bistability. NACA0011 airfoil is chosen for proving this concept. Wind tunnel tests demonstrate that the discrete surface is capable of withstanding the aerodynamic pressure. A remotely piloted vehicle is employed to test the discrete horizontal tail command during the take-off. The results show that, choosing a proper configuration of constraints, stacking sequence and aspect ratio for the bistable laminate, it is possible to tailor the snap-through mechanism. The proposed concept appears lighter and increases aerodynamic efficiency when compared to conventional UAV command surfaces.

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Section: Conflicts Of Interestsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Fe Simulations and Manufacturing Of Bistable Platesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simulation and Test of Discrete Mobile Surfaces for a RC-Aircraft

Nicassio

Scarselli

2019

Aerospace

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“…It is, however, appreciated that the method of applying compressive load influences the beam's dynamics significantly. It is accepted that the lack of load application system is a limitation of the model but also invites future research in to what method of compressive load application should be used [37].…”

Section: Validation Of the Effects Of Compressive Loading On Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Resonance avoidance for variable speed rotor blades using an applied compressive load

Dibble

Ondra

Titurus

2019

Aerospace Science and Technology

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Varying the rotational speed of the main rotor is one method being considered to improve the performance of future rotorcraft. However, changes in rotor speeds often lead to resonant interactions between rotor blade modes and the rotor's excitation frequencies which increase the vibratory loads in the rotor. This research investigates the use of a compressive load to reduce a blade's natural frequencies and its potential to be used as a resonance avoidance technique by improving separation between the natural and excitation frequencies of a blade. The research presented herein describes and validates a model of a pretwisted rotating beam with non-coincident mass and elastic axes with an applied compressive load. The compressive load is applied at the elastic axis at the tip of the beam and is orientated towards the root of the beam. The beam model is then used in a case study to represent the rotor blade of a typical mid-sized civilian helicopter. The case study is performed to calculate the natural frequencies of a compressed blade for a reduction in rotor speed of up to 40% and evaluate the performance of the compressive load resonance avoidance technique. The results of the case study show that the compressive load improves the separation between natural and excitation frequencies over the full range of rotor speeds evaluated. The improved separation allows the rotor to operate safely with a reduction in rotor speed of up to 19%.

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Mechano‐Responsive Polymers and Nanocomposites: Recent Advances for Self‐Adaptive Structural Applications

Yoon,

Oh,

Chang

et al. 2024

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Polymer nanocomposites exhibiting remarkable mechanical properties are a focus of research for decades in structural applications. However, their practical application faces challenges due to poor interfacial load transfer, nanofiller dispersion, and processing limitations. These issues are critical in achieving stiff, strong, lightweight, and structurally integrated materials. Additionally, they often suffer from predetermined properties, which may not be effective under specific loading conditions. Addressing these challenges, the development of design strategies for mechano‐responsive materials has advanced, enabling self‐adaptive properties that respond to various mechanical stimuli. Drawing inspiration from natural systems, these approaches have been implemented in synthetic material systems, leveraging the design flexibility of nanocomposites as needed. Key focus areas include exploring mechanoradical reactions for dynamic mechano‐responsiveness, as well as utilizing biomimetic mineralization and mechanical training for self‐strengthening. This work also examines multistability, enabling on‐demand deformation of materials and structures. Recent advancements in viscoelastic damping and nonreciprocal materials are discussed, highlighting their potential for directional energy absorption, transmission, and vibration control. Despite the need for significant improvements for real‐world applications, mechano‐responsive polymers and nanocomposites are expected to offer enormous opportunities not only in structural applications but also in other fields such as biomedical engineering, energy harvesting, and soft robotics.

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Low energy actuation technique of bistable composites for aircraft morphing

Cited by 75 publications

References 20 publications

Simulation and Test of Discrete Mobile Surfaces for a RC-Aircraft

Simulation and Test of Discrete Mobile Surfaces for a RC-Aircraft

Resonance avoidance for variable speed rotor blades using an applied compressive load

Mechano‐Responsive Polymers and Nanocomposites: Recent Advances for Self‐Adaptive Structural Applications

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