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Span morphing using the compliant spar

Span morphing using the compliant spar
Span morphing using the compliant spar
This paper develops and models the Compliant Spar concept that allows the wing span to be varied to provide roll control and enhance the operational performance for a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. The wing semi-span is split into morphing partitions and the concept maybe incorporated in each partition; however only the tip partition is considered here. The Compliant Spar is made of compliant joints arrange in series to allow the partition to be flexible under axial (spanwise) loads but at the same time stiff enough to resist bending loads. Each compliant joint consists of two concentric overlapping AL 2024-T3 tubes joined together using elastomeric material. Under axial (spanwise) loading, the elastomeric material deforms in shear allowing the overlapping distance between the tubes to vary and hence the length (in the spanwise direction) of the joint/spar to vary. High fidelity modelling of the concept is performed. Then, structural optimisation studies are performed to minimise the axial stiffness and the structural mass of the concept for various design constraints. The flexible skin and actuation system to be used are also addressed.
0893-1321
1-13
Ajaj, R.M.
ff8ce68d-2ba5-449e-83da-f2be54e6d409
Saavedra Flores, E.I.
51c7dfba-2289-4e4d-bfb8-17b10bb56458
Friswell, M.I.
e1f48951-f82e-4301-9a71-e32ce1188b00
DiazDelaO, F.A.
d13e9d1c-3842-4ab3-b13c-ec16261ae4bb
Ajaj, R.M.
ff8ce68d-2ba5-449e-83da-f2be54e6d409
Saavedra Flores, E.I.
51c7dfba-2289-4e4d-bfb8-17b10bb56458
Friswell, M.I.
e1f48951-f82e-4301-9a71-e32ce1188b00
DiazDelaO, F.A.
d13e9d1c-3842-4ab3-b13c-ec16261ae4bb

Ajaj, R.M., Saavedra Flores, E.I., Friswell, M.I. and DiazDelaO, F.A. (2014) Span morphing using the compliant spar. Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 1-13. (doi:10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000442).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper develops and models the Compliant Spar concept that allows the wing span to be varied to provide roll control and enhance the operational performance for a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. The wing semi-span is split into morphing partitions and the concept maybe incorporated in each partition; however only the tip partition is considered here. The Compliant Spar is made of compliant joints arrange in series to allow the partition to be flexible under axial (spanwise) loads but at the same time stiff enough to resist bending loads. Each compliant joint consists of two concentric overlapping AL 2024-T3 tubes joined together using elastomeric material. Under axial (spanwise) loading, the elastomeric material deforms in shear allowing the overlapping distance between the tubes to vary and hence the length (in the spanwise direction) of the joint/spar to vary. High fidelity modelling of the concept is performed. Then, structural optimisation studies are performed to minimise the axial stiffness and the structural mass of the concept for various design constraints. The flexible skin and actuation system to be used are also addressed.

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Span Morphing using the Compliant Spar.pdf - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 2 June 2014
Published date: 11 August 2014
Organisations: Aerodynamics & Flight Mechanics Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 365410
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/365410
ISSN: 0893-1321
PURE UUID: 827d40ec-e721-45c9-baff-46fe5d1e0d33

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Date deposited: 04 Jun 2014 09:11
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 16:53

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Contributors

Author: R.M. Ajaj
Author: E.I. Saavedra Flores
Author: M.I. Friswell
Author: F.A. DiazDelaO

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