Coupled aero-structural shape optimization of adaptive wing structures based on SMA-enabled morphing technologies
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Date
2026-06-22
Authors
Ηλιόπουλος, Θεόδωρος
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Abstract
In the current state of design work frames, aircraft are optimized for a limited number of design points or phases of their flight mission, while their performance is , at an extent, compromised for the rest of their flight envelope. To address this problem, the idea of morphing technologies has emerged. Morphing technologies essentially enable an aircraft to adapt its shape, in flight, in order to achieve optimal performance for a variety of flight missions and conditions. Nonetheless, morphing technologies have an inherent multidisciplinary nature that hinders their feasibility. For this reason, the coupling of these disciplines, and especially aerodynamics and structural, is critical for the exploration of morphing concepts. This thesis presents an overview of the evolution of morphing technologies as well as the latest studies that have demonstrated their feasibility and describes an aerodynamic methodology for generating morphing concepts and analyzing them, based on a low-fidelity potential aerodynamics. Additionally, a coupled structural analysis is conducted so as to combine the two most critical disciplines involved in such technologies. The aerodynamic methodology includes a custom-built tool that utilizes the Morino formulation, in which the flow is modelled with a low order source-doublet panel method. The development of such tool facilitated easy grid manipulation which was aimed at modelling a variety of morphing concepts. The grid manipulation was realized according to specific morphing laws that were defined to mathematically represent the deformation corresponding to a specific morphing concept, mostly involving the trailing edge. Multiple aerodynamic analyses were conducted for a wing and proved the reliability, accuracy, and robustness of the tool. A morphing trailing edge case was examined in more detail and its performance was compared with the equivalent conventional flap. The aerodynamic analyses showcased the performance improvements that morphing offers as well as the feasibility of certain morphing concepts. Apart from the aerodynamic analyses, several structural analyses were conducted for the morphing trailing edge so as to examine the structural behavior of such concept. Essentially, the coupling of both disciplines though these analyses, provides an initial preliminary investigation for morphing concepts.
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Keywords
Morphing wings, Panel methods, Morphing trailing edge, Coupling, Optimal shape