Morphing wings are desired for their ability to reduce drag, change flight characteristics, and perhaps reduce weight by eliminating flap / aileron mechanisms. Development of two generations of a student morphing wing project is documented. The second wing was further developed by Peel. The work shows how a relatively low cost but realistic morphing wing test-bed can be fabricated. Wing skin, actuator, and actuator attachment development are discussed, as well as possible auxetic skin behavior. Aerodynamic characterization of the wing will be discussed in another paper. A very simple morphing wing was fabricated in phase one. The nose was able to elastically camber down ∼ 25° and the tail 20°. Actuation was provided by three pneumatic “Rubber Muscle Actuators” (RMA) that produce high contractive forces. Upper and lower wing skins were fabricated from carbon fiber / polyurethane elastomer laminates. Lower skin buckling, actuator air leaks and actuator attachment problems were resolved in the second phase. A finite element model of the generation II wing was developed and is being used to refine/ explore the morphing wing test-bed. The second generation wing fabrication methodology shows smooth elastic cambering and no buckling or waviness in the skins. The nose cambered down 23° and the tail cambered down to 15°. Improved leak-free biomimetic actuators and attach points now include no metal parts, have higher actuation forces due to new braided sheaths and functionally gradient matrix properties.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2008 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems
October 28–30, 2008
Ellicott City, Maryland, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Aerospace Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4331-4
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Development of a Simple Morphing Wing Using Elastomeric Composites as Skins and Actuators
Larry D. Peel,
Larry D. Peel
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
James Mejia,
James Mejia
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Ben Narvaez,
Ben Narvaez
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Kyle Thompson,
Kyle Thompson
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Madhuri Lingala
Madhuri Lingala
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Larry D. Peel
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
James Mejia
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Ben Narvaez
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Kyle Thompson
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Madhuri Lingala
Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Paper No:
SMASIS2008-544, pp. 839-847; 9 pages
Published Online:
July 13, 2009
Citation
Peel, LD, Mejia, J, Narvaez, B, Thompson, K, & Lingala, M. "Development of a Simple Morphing Wing Using Elastomeric Composites as Skins and Actuators." Proceedings of the ASME 2008 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems. Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, Volume 1. Ellicott City, Maryland, USA. October 28–30, 2008. pp. 839-847. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/SMASIS2008-544
Download citation file:
25
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Curing and Consolidation of Advanced Thermoset Composite Laminate Parts by Pressing Between a Heated Mold and Customized Rubber-Faced Mold
J. Manuf. Sci. Eng (February,2011)
Small-Amplitude Free-Vibration Analysis of Piezoelectric Composite Plates Subject to Large Deflections and Initial Stresses
J. Vib. Acoust (February,2006)
Development of a Simple Morphing Wing Using Elastomeric Composites as Skins and Actuators
J. Mech. Des (September,2009)
Related Chapters
Novel and Efficient Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Analysis and Architecting of Ultralight Cellular Materials and their Macrostructural Responses
Advances in Computers and Information in Engineering Research, Volume 2
Human Thermal Comfort
Electromagnetic Waves and Heat Transfer: Sensitivites to Governing Variables in Everyday Life
Health and Safety and Emergency Response
Pipeline Transportation of Carbon Dioxide Containing Impurities