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Morphing Airfoil with Thermally Activated SMA Actuators

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Abstract

In this paper we study a type of design of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wire actuated morphing airfoil having discontinuous skin by targeting trailing edge deflection and changing camber. The design aims at airfoils to have optimal directional stiffness and relaxed shear constraint to allow the required change to create a conformal target shape. The trailing edge deflection of the morphing airfoil structure is produced by the electrical actuation via Joule heating of the actuators placed in the airfoil in various different configurations. Actuation response is tested under quasi-static loading and partial loading–unloading cycles applied to the actuators. Deformation characteristics are analyzed for these actuation schemes. Response time for various actuation rates and also the functional fatigue of SMA actuators due to variable stiffness conditions are investigated. Aerodynamic characteristics of this design are analyzed under a simulated free-stream flow velocity of up to 20 m/s and up to aerodynamic stall. For a maximum trailing edge rotation of 9°, a 150% increase in the coefficient of lift is observed. These results are further compared with wind tunnel test results which show promising outcome. Various aspects of aerodynamic performance enhancement and possibilities to realize it with distributed dynamic control via morphing structures are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thankfully acknowledge financial supports from NPMASS Program, Govt. of India, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Aeronautics Research and Development Board (AR&DB) to carry out the research work. Authors also thank Prof. G.K. Ananthasuresh for his suggestions at the initial phase of this research. Technical feedback from Dr. K Vijayaraju, Program Director, NPMASS, ADA, during the course of the study is acknowledged. Technical advice of V. Surendranath during wind tunnel testing is acknowledged. Technical input provided by A.K. Kancharla, K. Dasharathi and A.A. Wadkar, research assistants at IISc during the early stage of the study is thankfully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    R. Aditya Reddy, Dhaval D. Hinglajia, A. Modi, V. Prithivirajan, S. R. Hiremath, P. Sazawal & D. Roy Mahapatra

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  1. R. Aditya Reddy
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  2. Dhaval D. Hinglajia
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  3. A. Modi
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  4. V. Prithivirajan
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  5. S. R. Hiremath
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  6. P. Sazawal
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  7. D. Roy Mahapatra
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Correspondence to D. Roy Mahapatra.

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Reddy, R.A., Hinglajia, D.D., Modi, A. et al. Morphing Airfoil with Thermally Activated SMA Actuators. ISSS J Micro Smart Syst 6, 29–45 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41683-017-0003-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41683-017-0003-1

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