• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.193-207
• /
• 2019

This study concerns with morphing structures, e.g. as applied in the aerospace industry. A morphing aerofoil structure capable of variable geometry was developed, which was shown to be able to cater for the different aerodynamic requirements at different stages of flight. In this work, the useful and relatively simple method has been applied, which provides a direct method for calculating required morphing shape displacements via finding the most effective bar through calculating bar sensitivity to displacement and calculating set of length actuations for bar assembly to control/adjust shape imperfection of prestressable structural assemblies including complex elements ("macro-elements", e.g., the pantographic element), involving Matrix Condensation. The technique has been verified by experiments on the physical model of an aerofoil shaped morphing pantographic structure. Overall, experimental results agree well with theoretical prediction. Furthermore, the technique of multi-iteration adjustment was presented that effective in eliminating errors that occur in the practical adjustment process itself. It has been demonstrated by the experiments on the physical model of pantographic morphing structure. Finally, the study discusses identification of the most effective bars with the objective of minimal number of actuators or minimum actuation.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.225-240
• /
• 2011

Active and shape morphing aerospace structures are discussed with a focus on activities aimed at practical implementation. In active structures applications range from dynamic load alleviation in aircraft and spacecraft up to static and dynamic shape control. In contrast, shape morphing means strong shape variation according to different mission status and needs, aiming to enhance functionality and performance over wide flight and mission regimes. The interaction of required flexible materials with the morphing structure and the actuating mechanisms is specifically addressed together with approaches in design and simulation.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.441-450
• /
• 2017

The objective of this work is to present a conceptual design and the modelling of a distributed sensor system based on fiber optic devices (Fiber Bragg Grating, FBG), aimed at measuring span-wise and chord-wise variations of an adaptive (morphing) trailing edge. The network is made of two different integrated solutions for revealing deformations of the reference morphing structure. Strains are confined to typical values along the span (length) but they are expected to overcome standard ranges along the chord (width), up to almost 10%. In this case, suitable architectures may introduce proper modulations to keep the measured deformation low while preserving the information content. In the current paper, the designed monitoring system combines the use of a span-wise fiber reinforced patch with a chord-wise sliding beam. The two elements make up a closed grid, allowing the reconstruction of the complete deformed shape under the acceptable assumption that the transformation refers to regular geometry variations. Herein, the design logic and some integration issues are reported. Preliminary experimental test results are finally presented.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.303-328
• /
• 2015

A design methodology is presented to develop the hingeless control surfaces for MAV using adhesively bonded Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuators. These actuators have got the capability to deflect the trailing edge surfaces of the wing to attain the required maneuverability, besides achieving the set aerodynamic trim condition. A scheme involving design, analysis, fabrication and testing procedure has been adopted to realize the trailing edge morphing mechanism. The stiffness distribution of the composite MAV wing is tailored such that the induced deflection by piezoelectric actuation is approximately optimized. Through ground testing, the proposed concept has been demonstrated on a typical MAV structure. Electromechanical analysis is performed to evaluate the actuator performance and subsequently aeroelastic and 2D CFD analyses are carried out to see the functional requirements of wing trailing edge surfaces to behave as elevons. Efforts have been made to obtain the performance comparison of conventional control surfaces (elevons) with morphing wing trailing edge surfaces. A significant improvement in lift to drag ratio is noticed with morphed wing configuration in comparison to conventional wing. Further, it has been shown that the morphed wing trailing edge surfaces can be deployed as elevons for aerodynamic trim applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2005.04a
• /
• pp.51-54
• /
• 2005

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) find many applications in smart composite structural systems as the active components. Their ability to provide a high force and large displacement makes them an excellent candidate for an actuator for controlling the shape of smart structures. In this paper, using a macroscopic model that captures the thermo-mechanical behaviors and the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) of SMAs smart morphing polymeric composite shell structures like shape-changeable UAV wings is demonstrated and analyzed numerically and experimentally when subjected to various kinds of pressure loads. The controllable shapes of the morphing shells to that thin SMA strip actuator are attached are investigated depending on various phase transformation temperatures. SMA strips start to transform from the martensitic into the austenitic state upon actuation through resistive heating, simultaneously recover the prestrain, and thus cause the shell structures to deform three dimensionally. The behaviors of composite shells attached with SMA strip actuators are analyzed using the finite element methods and 3-D constitutive equations of SMAs. Several morphing composite shell structures are fabricated and their experimental shape changes depending on temperatures are compared to the numerical results. That two results show good correlations indicates the finite element analysis and 3-D constitutive equations are accurate enough to utilize them for the design of smart composite shell structures for various applications.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.139-154
• /
• 2016

This paper is concerned with the dynamics of hyperelastic solids and structures. We seek for a smart control actuation that produces a desired (prescribed) displacement field in the presence of transient imposed forces. In the literature, this problem is denoted as displacement tracking, or also as shape morphing problem. One talks about shape control, when the displacements to be tracked do vanish. In the present paper, it is assumed that the control actuation is provided by imposed eigenstrains, e.g., by the electric field in piezoelectric actuators, or by thermal actuators, or via analogous physical effects, such as magneto-striction or pre-stress. Structures with a controlled eigenstrain-type actuation belong to the class of smart structures. The action of the eigenstrains can be conveniently characterized by actuation stresses. Our theoretical derivations are performed in the framework of the theory of small incremental dynamic deformations superimposed upon a statically pre-deformed configuration of a hyperelastic solid or structure. We particularly ask for a distribution of incremental actuation stresses, such that the incremental displacements follow exactly a prescribed trajectory field, despite the imposed incremental forces are present. An exact solution of this problem is presented under the assumption that the actuation stresses can be tailored freely and applied everywhere within the body. Extending a Neumann-type solution strategy, it is shown that the actuation stresses due to the distributed control eigenstrains must satisfy certain quasi-static equilibrium conditions, where auxiliary body-forces and auxiliary surface tractions are to be taken into account. The latter auxiliary loading can be directly computed from the imposed forces and from the desired displacement field to be tracked. Hence, despite the problem is a dynamic one, a straightforward computation of proper actuator distributions can be obtained in the framework of quasi-static equilibrium conditions. Necessary conditions for the functioning of this concept are presented. Particularly, it must be required that the intermediate configuration is infinitesimally superstable. Previous results of our group for the case of shape control and displacement tracking in linear elastic structures are included as special cases. The high potential of the solution is demonstrated via Finite Element computations for an irregularly shaped four-corner plate in a state of plain strain.