Aero-Engineering Moves Closer to Us Wing Suit Pilots

[ScottGray 0]

I had a recent and very interesting exchange with someone in the aeronautical engineering department of Virginia Tech. It focused on the pursuit of "Morphing Wing" technology (e.g changing the surface area and shape of aircraft wings much like we do in wing suit flight).

JUST COOL - IF YOU ARE A SCI-TECHIE.....

It will be interesting to see if any of the models they are working with or produce can be used to simulate wing suit flight.

Text below from - http://www.afrlhorizons.com/Briefs/Jun05/VAH0502.html

Scientists have considered designing a vehicle that includes morphing wings for many years. Variable-sweep wings first made their appearance on operational aircraft in the 1960s. Their morphing capabilities were limited, however; the variable-sweep wings could change their angle, but not their surface area. True morphing did not become possible until the past decade, during which scientists began to develop smart materials. When exposed to a thermal, electric, or magnetic field, smart materials respond by exerting force, and scientists can channel this force to initiate an aircraft wing’s desired transformation.

Using smart materials, scientists were able to develop higher-power-density actuator systems that could create a specific, controlled reaction. Ongoing advancements in this area eventually led today’s scientists to their current work on morphing wing technology. Today’s systems continue to rely on these actuators to control wing morphing, much the same as a bird uses its muscles to control its own wings. Scientists are examining how to distribute the actuators throughout the aircraft wing structure to enable its transformation into different shapes. In addition, they are studying mechanized wing structures.

In the past, a wing structure’s sole purpose was to carry the aerodynamic loads; in essence, the structure served as the bones of the aircraft. A wing that must also support morphing movements, however, could benefit from mechanization. Therefore, scientists are exploring ways to mechanize aircraft wing structures. Their goal is to efficiently integrate actuators into the structure so that it remains capable of bearing the load but can also move. Fundamentally, the actuators would behave similarly to the joints in a human body.

The technology currently exists to use actuators in this way, but they would be so bulky and heavy that performance and payload capability would suffer. For the last 50 years, wings have been constructed with a box/beam configuration to resist aerodynamic forces. They have spars that run parallel with the wing structure and are surrounded by a skin, a configuration that veryeffectively keeps the wing from bending (spars) and twisting (skin). Despite its advantages, however, this construction is too rigid to allow large-scale structural deformation.

To overcome this barrier, morphing project contractor NextGen Aeronautics designed a hinged spar structure that resists twisting motion as effectively as the skin in a box/beam configuration. The viability of this and similar concepts is dependent upon the development of a new type of skin. This skin will need to be very flexible, rendering traditional materials such as aluminum obsolete. Engineers may pattern the new skin to function more like human skin—very flexible, but stiff enough not to deform under aerodynamic loads.

AFRL is fulfilling two vital roles in advancing morphing technology: (1) conducting mission analysis, and (2) creating advanced-analysis simulations. In support of mission analysis, scientists have already conducted many technical studies to examine the ways in which the type of morphing wing and its specific characteristics affect aircraft capabilities such as airspeed, altitude, and time on station. Now, they are using this acquired knowledge base to determine practical uses for the warfighter by matching technical capability to AF needs such as persistence and agility.

Similarly, AFRL scientists in the midst of creating advanced-analysis simulations have entered a new, more sophisticated modeling phase. They are creating computer simulation models that include more accurate descriptions of the aerodynamic forces placed on aircraft wings. The resulting design environment facilitates complete analysis of wing control and structural integrity in advance of building an actual model. If these wings become a future reality, this modeling technology will save time and money by virtually eliminating the need for trial-and-error design. Further, scientists are continuously increasing the accuracy of these virtual models by validating them against physical models. They will eventually pursue additional model improvements through wind tunnel and flight testing. The bat wing is scheduled to undergo flight testing on a remotecontrolled air vehicle in the near future.

Throughout at least the next decade, scientists will use the results of this study as a stepping stone for conceiving and developing viable air platforms with many possible uses, one of which is likely homeland security. For example, F-16s currently patrol the skies for long periods of time in anticipation of events requiring their swift action. This patrol is monotonous, and it requires frequent refueling. An alternative solution might be an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system that incorporates morphing technologies. The UAV could slowly patrol an area for long periods of time without leaving its station. If events necessitate action, the UAV could morph and quickly respond to investigate the situation. The private airline industry may also use this technology to increase fuel efficiency, and it may be pertinent to micro air vehicle development as well. Morphing technology has the potential to overcome a multitude of problems and limitations; ultimately, it will not only dramatically alter air vehicle appearance, but also greatly influence associated performance standards.

Other related links:

http://www.primidi.com/2007/07/24.html

http://radio.weblogs.com/0105910/2004/04/25.html

http://www.psu.edu/ur/2004/morphwing.html

http://www.me.vt.edu/morphingwing/

http://news.ufl.edu/2005/08/23/morphing-planes/

WSI-5 / PFI-51 / EGI-112 / S-Fly
The Brothers Gray Wing Suit Academy
Contact us for first flight and basic flocking courses at your DZ or boogie.
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[pbla4024 0]

Engineers played with modifiable wing area already in thirties.

Fido

[mccordia 74]

the stuff we fly has a 'distorted' wing-area...not a modifyable..

We can only go from barely flying to not flying at all by changing the shape...those (model) planes have 10 times better glide then we have

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[normiss 803]

but can they pop or poop???

[Airowpoint 0]

What about the F-14 Tomcat:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-14_Tomcat

Tristan
Will you answer "NO" to my next question?

[IslandGuy 0]

Quote

Engineers played with modifiable wing area already in thirties.

Ya, and cavemen played with fire 500,000 years ago and Hero played with jet engines in the first century AD, but what's that got to do with common rail diesels and afterburners??
The structures aerospace engineers are dreaming up these days with the tools and technology at their disposal ain't your grandaddy's wings.

I just hope all this stuff leads to a little better mileage in a wingsuit cuz right now mine ain't so good.
Good post Scott.

Play like your life depends on it.

[The111 1]

Quote

I just hope all this stuff leads to a little better mileage in a wingsuit cuz right now mine ain't so good.

I've got lots of mileage, it's just mostly vertical.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[pbla4024 0]

One of designs was telescopic wing if I remember correctly. Thick inner part, thin outer part, for fast flight you retract outer part into inner part. Between the wars era was rich for such attempts.
Ps.: My grandparents are dead.

Fido

[Trae 1]

nice original post.
Many old ideas from the past are what got us where we are. With modern techniques (eg computing power ) many of those ideas may/will become a reality ...and a hot looking one
Morphing vehicle technology /ideas are not new but they are potentially VERY rewarding.

Its good to see aeronautical minds being creative and willing to share as well.

Transformers here we come.