Aero-structural optimization and analysis of a camber-morphing flying wing: Structural and wind tunnel testing

TLDR

The study designs, optimizes, and evaluates a novel structure‑actuation camber‑morphing concept for a flying wing that enables straight‑flight control and pitch/roll maneuvering. The concept employs an internally compliant, optimally shaped structure with electromechanical actuators to deflect the trailing edge, altering lift distribution; its aero‑structural behavior is modeled with coupled 3‑D aerodynamic‑structural simulations, and the planform, shape, structure, and actuation parameters are optimized for longitudinal stability and aerodynamic efficiency, with experimental stiffness and morphing tests validating the predictions and assessing aeroelastic performance. Numerical optimization reduces morphing‑induced drag, yielding high aerodynamic efficiency over a range of speeds, while wind‑tunnel tests confirm that the wing can generate sufficient lift, roll, and pitch variations to control flight entirely via camber morphing.

Abstract

This article presents the design, optimization and performance assessment of a novel structure-actuation morphing concept for a flying wing, enabling the flight control for straight flight and around the pitch and roll axes. The applied camber-morphing concept utilizes an optimized selectively compliant internal structure, combined with electromechanical actuators to achieve a trailing edge deflection. These deflections lead to variations of the local and global lift, permitting to control the flight of the aircraft. The aero-structural behaviour of the wing is analysed using a coupled three-dimensional aerodynamic and structural simulation tool. An optimization of the planform, aerodynamic shape, internal structure and actuation parameters is performed to attain a longitudinally stable and aerodynamically efficient flying wing. The drag increment caused by morphing is minimized through the numerical optimization, resulting in high aerodynamic efficiency across a range of flight speeds. The stiffness and morphing capabilities of the manufactured wing are characterized experimentally and are compared with the numerical predictions, and the aerodynamic and aeroelastic behaviour of the wing is investigated through wind tunnel tests. The test results indicate the ability of the flying wing to achieve sufficient variations in lift, roll and pitch to control the flight completely through camber morphing.