Morphing Wing Adaptive Skin

About

Traditional aircraft wing designs, though widespread, have some considerable aerodynamic drawbacks. The use of discrete control surfaces (Elevators, Rudder, Ailerons) to control airflow around the aircraft is known to cause flow separation, especially at the limit of control surface deflections. To meet the ever increasing demand for more efficient, robust, and cost effective designs, there is an argument that conventional control surface methodologies need to be re-examined, in favour of “morphing” technologies and techniques. Morphing technologies typically revolve around adaptive geometry structures and mechanisms and are very attractive to aircraft designers as they can provide substantial benefits to aircraft performance. However, even with the substantial research efforts over the last few decades morphing concepts still suffer significant challenges. These include added weight, insufficient structural integrity, excessive actuation loads, and inadequate surface continuity or rigidity under aerodynamic load. A critical component of any compliant morphing structure is the morphing skin or surface. The skin must be flexible for actuation, but also rigid enough to resist airflow pressures which could otherwise reduce aerodynamic performance. Compounding these requirements is the need for the surface to remain smooth with minimal wrinkling around the underlying movable mechanisms. Brunel University has developed a viable, realistic solution in the form of an active wing/blade twist technology with an adaptive skin for seamless and adjustable changes in wing/blade twist angle. See video for prototype demonstration flight. This technology also provides a novel alternative to existing mechanisms for example the possibility of morphing winglets to enhance the performance and controllability of the aircraft.