Smart TERFENOL-D-powered trailing-edge experiment

Fred Austin; Michael J. Siclari; Martin Kesselman; G. Nicholas Weisensel

doi:10.1117/12.310643

16 June 1998 Smart TERFENOL-D-powered trailing-edge experiment

Fred Austin, Michael J. Siclari, Martin Kesselman, G. Nicholas Weisensel

Proceedings Volume 3326, Smart Structures and Materials 1998: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.310643
Event: 5th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

An airfoil with a TERFENOL-D powered smart trailing edge is being developed to minimize drag during transonic cruise. TERFENOL-D linear motors move segmented flaps that continuously modify the trailing-edge shape for optimum performance. The system is mechanized to maintain smooth upper-surface shapes.The flap sizes and geometric parameters are being optimized with a modified simulated annealing technique. A full potential solver coupled to an integral boundary-layer method is used to simulate the aerodynamics. Average drag improvements over the lift-coefficient range are 16 counts at Mach 0.815 and 46 counts at Mach 0.726. The result of the optimization are checked for validity and flow separation with a higher-fidelity Navier-Stokes solver. A proof-of-concept TERFENOL-D elastic-wave linear motor has been built, and provides 1.5 in. strokes at the required speed of roughly 1 in./min. The motor is currently being used to power an engineering model of the smart trailing edge. Mathematical models and testing are being employed to investigate geometric, magnetic, and electronic design improvements which have the potential to significantly improve motor performance.

Citation Download Citation

Fred Austin, Michael J. Siclari, Martin Kesselman, and G. Nicholas Weisensel "Smart TERFENOL-D-powered trailing-edge experiment", Proc. SPIE 3326, Smart Structures and Materials 1998: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, (16 June 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.310643

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