Seamless morphing trailing edge flaps for UAS-S45 using high-fidelity aerodynamic optimization

The seamless trailing edge morphing flap is investigated using a high-fidelity steady-state aerodynamic shape optimization to determine its optimum configuration for different flight conditions,including climb,cruise,and gliding descent.A comparative study is also conducted between a wing equipped with morphing flap and a wing with conventional hinged flap.The optimization is performed by specifying a certain objective function and the flight performance goal for each flight condition.Increasing the climb rate,extending the flight range and endurance in cruise,and decreasing the descend rate,are the flight performance goals covered in this study.Various optimum configurations were found for the morphing wing by determining the optimum morphing flap deflection for each flight condition,based on its objective function,each of which performed better than that of the baseline wing.It was shown that by using optimum configuration for the morphing wing in climb condition,the required power could be reduced by up to 3.8%and climb rate increases by 6.13%.The comparative study also revealed that the morphing wing enhances aerodynamic efficiency by up to 17.8%and extends the laminar flow.Finally,the optimum configuration for the gliding descent brought about a 43%reduction in the descent rate.

Optimization and design of an aircraft's morphing wing-tip demonstrator for drag reduction at low speed, Part Ⅰ–Aerodynamic optimization using genetic, bee colony and gradient descent algorithms

In this paper, an ‘in-house＇ genetic algorithm is described and applied to an optimization problem for improving the aerodynamic performances of an aircraft wing tip through upper surface morphing. The algorithm＇s performances were studied from the convergence point of view, in accordance with design conditions. The algorithm was compared to two other optimization methods,namely the artificial bee colony and a gradient method, for two optimization objectives, and the results of the optimizations with each of the three methods were plotted on response surfaces obtained with the Monte Carlo method, to show that they were situated in the global optimum region. The optimization results for 16 wind tunnel test cases and 2 objective functions were presented. The 16 cases used for the optimizations were included in the experimental test plan for the morphing wing-tip demonstrator, and the results obtained using the displacements given by the optimizations were evaluated.

A new non-linear vortex lattice method:Applications to wing aerodynamic optimizations

This paper presents a new non-linear formulation of the classical Vortex Lattice Method （VLM） approach for calculating the aerodynamic properties of lifting surfaces. The method accounts for the effects of viscosity, and due to its low computational cost, it represents a very good tool to perform rapid and accurate wing design and optimization procedures. The mathematical model is constructed by using two-dimensional viscous analyses of the wing span-wise sections, according to strip theory, and then coupling the strip viscous forces with the forces generated by the vortex rings distributed on the wing camber surface, calculated with a fully three-dimensional vortex lifting law. The numerical results obtained with the proposed method are validated with experimental data and show good agreement in predicting both the lift and pitching moment, as well as in predicting the wing drag. The method is applied to modifying the wing of an Unmanned Aerial System to increase its aerodynamic efficiency and to calculate the drag reductions obtained by an upper surface morphing technique for an adaptable regional aircraft wing.