Concept for morphing airfoil with zero torsional stiffness

Stephen Daynes, Xavier Lachenal, Paul M. Weaver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A morphing wing structure is presented which is designed to have zero torsional stiffness to minimise actuation requirements. The concept consists of carbon fibre reinforced plastic strips which are initially curved prior to being flattened and assembled into a grid-like structure in a heightened state of elastic strain energy. Varying the initial curvature of the strips, material properties and the assembled geometry enables the torsional stiffness to be tailored. A state of zero torsional stiffness can be obtained when there is a balance between the changes in strain energy associated with bending and twist deformations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)129-134
Number of pages6
JournalThin-Walled Structures
Volume94
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Composites
  • Morphing
  • Multistability
  • Nonlinear structures
  • Prestress
  • Zero-stiffness

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