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Outline for Mission-based Morphing Evaluation with Smart Material

Technology

Article in International Journal of Applied Engineering Research · April 2016

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 International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 11, Number 6 (2016) pp 4012-4016
© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

Outline for Mission-based Morphing Evaluation with Smart Material

Technology

Musavir Bashir
School of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus,
14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Parvathy Rajendran*
School of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus,
14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected]

Theam Foo Ng
Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Shir Li Wang
Faculty of Art, Computing and Creative Industry, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris,
35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.

Abstract example, a slight movement of trailing edge devices or any

Adaptive wings use a systematic approach to optimize the other wing control surface results in a favorable aerodynamic
aerodynamic characteristics of an aerospace vehicle. This optimization at manifold flight conditions. Thus, the objective
study provides an overview of morphing assignment based on of designing wings is to obtain higher aerodynamic efficiency
mission profile analysis, materials, and mechanism used in in a wide range of flight environments at different Mach
morphing aircraft for a multi-mission purpose. This endeavor numbers.
faces serious challenges with the growing structural Nature has always been the inspiration for developing the
complexity of new morphing structures, and its constraints for insights into flight, particularly wing morphological design
performing optimally at all flight conditions. The key is to aspects. These designs are driving research to its new era. In
identify the mission requirements and to enable technology particular, aerodynamic efficiency is attained by evolving an
for adaptive structures based on smart materials. This study aircraft to adopt or change its wing geometry to fly
enumerates the class of smart materials that enable overall concordant to the most proficient mission possible. This
structural optimization over a wide range of flight conditions. advancement is designated as morphing wing technology and
The foremost objective is to develop a multi-mission aircraft has encouraged designers to seek inspiration from nature to
design in which morphing is accomplished using a accomplish the features of avian flight. Notably, researchers
combination of smart materials to ensure structural integrity, are concerned with the adherence between the aerodynamics
reduced weight penalty, and enhanced performance. Thus, a and structure that designate the wings of birds [1]. In birds,
brief retrospect of morphing wing research is presented the feathers operate as the lifting surfaces and are joined to
keeping mission perspectives in consideration and enabling robust skeleton, thus enabling substantial movement. Avian
key technologies to meet its requirements. morphology enables each wing configuration to perform a
specific flight mission [2].
Keywords: Morphing Aircraft, Morphing Wings, Mission Considerable literature on the aerodynamic performance
Specifications, Smart Materials, Morphing Mechanisms, efficiency using integrated morphing geometry at subscale
Aerodynamic efficiency. flight and its realization exists; however, achievement in
commercial airplanes in practical settings is scarce [3]. The
purpose of the design of morphing aircraft structure is to resist
Introduction the conventional loads and to change the geometry to resist
One of the noted sparseness problems in aircraft design is the different load conditions. NASA flights tested a morphed
high computational cost because of multidisciplinary aircraft that will morph the wing to be aerodynamically
investigation of the intricate wing structure. With escalating tailored to improve fuel consumption and reduce airframe
fuel prices, the designers are left with no option but to develop weight while reducing environmental and noise impacts [4].
more efficient aircraft. Therefore, the energy-saving principle The morphing mechanics enable us to split the wing into two
is prioritized by mitigating the fuel burn rate in the aircraft to reduce the drag and increase the lift by avoiding
industry. One of the major approaches adopted to tackle this conventional flaps.
problem is by aerodynamically designing more efficient The potential benefit of morphing is that this technology
wings. Even a small agreement in the wing structure can allow increases aerodynamic efficiency by reducing drag.
the aircraft to aviate at the optimal range of performances. For Accordingly, energy efficiency is improved and fuel cost is

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minimized. Although morphing design comes with a few Morphing Concepts

penalties, the slight improvement in the overall performance is With the advancements in computational dynamics and
noteworthy. NASA reported that approximately 1% reduction multidisciplinary fields, designers introduce new concepts of
in airfoil drag economizes the US fleet by saving $140 million research to mitigate future challenges. As shown in Figure 1,
per year [5]. many physical parameters in morphing technology, such as
Given the capability of morphing to reform aircraft design by wing span, wing sweep, wing camber, wing thickness, taper
improving aerodynamic efficiency, researchers are exploring ratio, and airfoil adjustment, could be changed. The accounts
more possibilities in this discipline. Thus, this study analyzes of each of these parameters are determined via three ways:
the field by three main criteria to identify the key technologies through the integration of several numerical simulations,
to enable morphing. These criteria are mission specification comprehensive understanding of the morphing craft being
followed by morphing concepts, mechanism aspect, and evaluated, and thorough understanding of the aerodynamic
material technology aspect. changes that are caused by the geometric changes.

Mission Specification
Morphing aircraft design propitiates discordant flight
conditions to allow an aircraft to perform a variety of roles or
missions. The requirements of these missions vary from
simple to complex, depending on the operation capabilities of
different aerospace vehicles. A simple mission analysis of an
air vehicle generally consists of 1) limber up and take-off
(sometimes rapid take-off), 2) climb, 3) cruise, 4) performing
mission, 5) descent, 6) loiter, and 7) landing (sometimes short
ground). The aim is to develop active wing configurations that
are capable of accomplishing the following tasks: changing
the shape to achieve a wide range of aerodynamic
proficiencies and allowing aeroelastic features to be feasible
with conventional counterparts. Therefore, considering the
mission profile of aerial vehicles is vital to enhance the
morphing research discipline. Table 1 outlines the various
requisite performance parameters befitting their mission
specifications.

Table 1: Classification of Aerial Vehicles Based on Mission

Capability.
Figure 1: Wing Morphing Variation
Mission Performance parameter Example
specification
Intelligence/ High endurance, high loiter Global Hawk, Morphing is the key technology employed to allow the aircraft
reconnaissance rate, large cruise distance Raptor, to surpass their fixed wing counterparts to achieve multiple
Eurohawk,
missions. For example, the folded wing UAV developed by
SensoCraft
Lockheed Martin has the capability to change its flight
Combat/decoy Rapid take-off, maximum Mali, Harpy,
speed, rolling moment Lark, Flyrt, characteristics by varying its wing span. Accordingly,
capability, lateral stability, ITALD performing reconnaissance, loitering, and striking as well as
good turn rates ensuring vigilance in the same vehicle are allowed. Notably,
Logistics/transport Long range and endurance, Paketcopter, multiple UAVs are usually needed to achieve all these
high payload possibility, CQ10, DJI missions. Wing span morphing results deliver roll control and
maneuverability, VTOL Phantom 2 replace conventional ailerons [6]. They also quantified the
Communication/ Rapid take-off, low-speed Mikado, capability of span morphing to reduce the induced drag,
health monitoring and high-speed performance, DragonEye, prolong endurance, and enhance short take-off and landing
hover and perch, short Scorpio, distance. This increase in the aerodynamic efficiency is
landing distance Robocopter
promising to the economy of the aircraft industry.
Infiltration/ High endurance, high loiter Global Hawk,
surveillance rate, good maneuverability, Condor, Sweep angle has an inverse relation with the lift; as sweep
good turn rates, hover, and Mercator. angle increases, the coefficients of lift decrease.
perch Thus, the approach speed of the aircraft is increased and
Research/ Long endurance, VTOL, Luna, Falco, longer runways are required. Increments in the maximum
development hover and perch, good Hornet, Phantom coefficient of lift are needed to achieve adequate and safe
maneuverability, large cruise 1, EagleEye landing. This requirement is achieved by variable geometry.
distance However, a number of problems are related with variable
geometry, such as complex structure and incurring additional

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weight. However, the aerodynamic performance at high Mach small sweep angles to achieve increased lift-to-drag ratio,
numbers in different flight conditions needs variable sweep higher loiter time, large cruise distance, and good turn rates.
geometry. Similarly, the combat, logistics, communication, and health
The twist morphing approach allows the wing to gradually monitoring missions are characterized by rapid take-off, low-
change its camber via variable twist angle. The wing can speed and high-speed performance, rolling moment capability,
accomplish low drag and high aerodynamic lift by optimizing and lateral stability. Accordingly, the requirements are as
the twist angle. Moreover, this technique controls the follows: low to moderate aspect ratio, wing configurations
aerodynamic forces and moments of the aircraft, resulting in with good sweep angle, and the combination of VTOL
leveled flight. This technique is also capable of preventing the advantages with fixed wing. These features are also achieved
tip stall behavior, thus, the span wise lift distribution is by different morphing design aspects. Therefore, to achieve a
adjusted. A prototype of a micro aerial vehicle was developed multi-mission vehicle, a concept design should obtain all these
in which the wings can change the twist angle using a servo performance parameters. Table 3 summarizes the multi-
motor [7]. This design can provide impressive stall and mission concept design features with their morphing materials
acrobat features that can be used for fast maneuvering flight and suitable mechanism.
conditions.
The camber morphing technique enables the aircraft to vary
its camber and chord lengths. As a result, the zero lift angle of
attack, airfoil efficiency, and separation phenomenon are
affected as well as the reduction in drag. The camber
dimension can be increased by extending the slats or flaps.
Morphing has produced trailing edge flaps to increase the lift.
By actuating the leading edge slats, the angle of attack is
increased for stall. The airfoil camber can be modified either
by restructuring of ribs or by adaptive airfoil skin. Many
researchers have investigated camber morphing and its
proficiency on the aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft
[8].

Morphing Mechanisms
The general structure of the wing comprises the conventional
rib and spar design. If morphing is employed to this structure
by means of hydraulic actuators, pumps, and other systems,
then considerable complexity and weight penalty would be
obtained. Researchers are concerned with validating the
versatility of the ribs and spars in the wing to maximize the
degree of freedom of these structures. Therefore, an approach Figure 2: Smart Materials for Aircraft Structures [9–12]
that ensures reduced complexity and weight penalty and
allows the attainment of the desired features should be Table 2: List of Smart Materials and Morphing Outcomes.
developed.
With the existing technology, the mechanisms that would Material used Mechanism used Morphing
approve this kind of adeptness are smart material disciplines, obtained
such as shape memory alloys (SMAs), shape memory Shape memory alloy [13] Vertebrate actuator Profile
polymers, and piezo-crystals, as illustrated in Figure 2. All of system camber
these mechanisms yield a wide range of actuation stress, Piezoelectric ceramic [14] LIPCA Trailing edge
strain, and rapidity. Some of these mechanisms can overcome Elastomeric matrix Fishbone mechanism Camber
others in aiming a few applications. For example, piezo- composite[15] morphing
crystals show rapid stress actuation at the expense of small Macro-fiber composite Piezoelectric Span
displacement. Meanwhile, shape memory polymers provide [16] expansion morphing
large actuation strains but limited stress. Certain alloys, such Curvilinear fiber Bending flexibility Span
as SMAs, can provide a good combination of these properties. composite [17] morphing
Table 2 elucidates the various smart material-based morphing Pneumatic artificial PAM scissor Span
designs achieved in recent years. muscle(PAM) [18] mechanism morphing
Fiber-laminated Complaint belt rib All morphing
composite [19] mechanism
Morphing Concept Discussion Kevlar epoxy tube [20] Magneto-strictive Chord
The different mission specifications mentioned in Table 1 are mechanism morphing
characterized by different performance parameters. Missions,
such as reconnaissance, research and development, and
surveillance, require high aspect ratio wing configuration with

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Table 3: Mission-based Morphing Conceptualization with 4th RAeS Structural Design Conference, Belfast,
Different Smart Materials. October 2014.
[4] Official Press Release, April 29, 2015, “NASA
Mission Morphing Mechanism/ material successfully completed flight tests of a morphing wing
specification applicable technology” Link: https://www. nasa. gov/press-
Intelligence/ Span/camber Macro-fiber release/nasa-successfully-tests-shape-changing-wing-
reconnaissance morphing composite/elastomeric for-next-generation-aviation
matrix composite [5] Yap, Y. K., “The Morphing Wing: Birds Know
Combat/decoy Span/sweep/wing Macro-fiber composite/ Best”http://illumin.usc.edu/assets/submissions/738/
dihedral morphing shape memory Yap-%20The%20Morphing%20Wing. pdf
composite/piezo-alloys [6] Ajaj, R. M., Saavedra Flores E. I., Friswell, M. I.,
Logistics/ Planform/camber/ Shape memory alloys/ Woods B. K. S., Dettmer, W. G., Allegri, G. and
transport chord morphing elastomeric matrix Isikveren, A. T., 2012, “Structural Design and
composite/ Kevlar Modelling of the Zigzag Wingbox for Span Morphing
polymers Wing, ”3rd RAeS Aircraft Structural Design
Communication/ Aspect Curvilinear fiber Conference, Delft, Netherland, Royal Aeronautical
health ratio/sweep/ composite/ shape Society.
monitoring camber morphing memory composite
[7] Galantani, V. P., 2012, “Design and analysis of
Infiltration/ Aspect Macro-fiber composite/
morphing wing for unmanned aerial vehicles” Thesis,
surveillance ratio/camber/ shape memory
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
dihedral morphing composite/piezo-alloys
University of Toronto.
Research/ Span/camber Macro-fiber composite/
development morphing elastomeric matrix [8] McGown, A. M. R., Vicroy, D. D., Busan, R. C.,
Hahn, A. S., 2009, “Perspectives on Highly adaptive
composite
or morphing aircraft, ” NASA Langley Research
Centre, NATO RTO AVT-168 Symposium; 20-24
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A brief retrospect of morphing wing research was presented [9] Calkins, F. T., Mabe, J. H., 2010 “Shape Memory
keeping mission perspectives in consideration and enabling Alloy Based Morphing Aero-Structures” Journal of
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and the key aim is to move toward advanced smart materials [11] Advanced Structures, University Of Cambridge,
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[13] Elzey, D. M., Sofla, A. Y. N., and Wadley, H. N. G.,
Acknowledgment 2003, “Bio-inspired, high-authority actuator for shape
This publication was supported by the Universiti Sains morphing structures. Smart Structures and Materials”
Malaysia Short Term Grant No. 304/PAERO/60312047 and Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics,
Research Acculturation Grant Scheme No. 2013-0162-109-72. Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 5053.
[14] Lee, S. K., and Park, H. C., 2003, “Design and
Demonstration Of A Biomimetic Wing Section Using
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