Project B2.4 "Morphing structures for the 1g-wing" explores the exploitation of the non linear structural behavior of wing design components to achieve passive load alleviation. With load alleviation the wing deforms in a way that relieves the aerodynamic load under gust or maneuver loads. Passive means that it does so without additional actuators. The aim of load alleviation is to achieve a lighter wing design by limiting the maximum load which can be reached. Especially significant nonlinear behavior such as buckling is explored in the project.
The project is divided into three phases. The most investigations are done with numerical simulations.
Phase 1 explores the nonlinear structural behavior of representative parts of wing design. The target is gaining the basic understanding how to tailor such parts to meet needs. In this phase experimental validation of simulations is planned.
In Phase 2 the structural parts with defined behaviour are included in a quasi-2D wing section. The structural model will be coupled with a fluid simulation to for an aeroelastic simulation. This allows exploration of the wing deformation and the interaction on the flow during load events with high detail in the time domain.
Phase 3 extends the model to a full 3D wing design. This allows research of complex deformations such as torsional rotation for load alleviation to finally develop appropriate lightweight wing design concepts.
Dr.-Ing. Matthias Haupt
Institute of aircraft design and lightweight structures
+49 531-391-9917