Aircraft Aerodynamic Component Coupling for Load-Decoupled Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft systems, particularly movable components like flaps, experience high bending and tension forces due to aerodynamic loads, leading to significant stress on coupling mechanisms, which existing designs struggle to efficiently manage.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft systems are designed with a first and second coupling unit that kinematically decouple the aerodynamic component from bending effects by providing separate load paths through non-directly connected coupling mechanisms, allowing for a rotational movement with a shifting center of rotation, reducing internal loads and forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single coupling mechanism is used to connect the aerodynamic component to the support structure, then the structure is simpler, but high bending and tension forces occur within the coupling mechanism due to aerodynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into two separate coupling mechanisms (first and second coupling mechanisms) that independently connect the aerodynamic component to different coupling points on the support structure. This segmentation distributes the aerodynamic loads across multiple paths, reducing the bending and tension forces in each individual coupling mechanism while maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the aerodynamic component is rigidly connected to the support structure, then structural integrity is maintained, but high interface loads and torsions occur during rotational movement
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanisms are designed to enable dynamic rotational movement of the aerodynamic component relative to the support structure. The mechanisms accommodate changes in load distribution during rotation by allowing the center of rotation to shift from a neutral position to an adjusted position, reducing interface loads and torsions while maintaining structural integrity throughout the movement.
3Length of moving object
If coupling points are located close together, then the coupling structure is more compact, but the coupling mechanisms experience higher internal forces
Solution Approach 1:
The two coupling points are spatially separated not only along the chordwise direction but also in the spanwise direction, creating a three-dimensional distribution of coupling points. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows the coupling mechanisms to form a more stable geometric configuration that reduces internal forces while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft system includes a support structure, an aerodynamic component, a first coupling unit and a second coupling unit. The first coupling unit includes a first coupling mechanism movably coupling the aerodynamic component to a first coupling point at the support structure, and a second coupling mechanism coupling the aerodynamic component to a second coupling point at the support structure. The first and second coupling points are spatially separated from each other, wherein the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism interact with each other to enable a rotational movement of the aerodynamic component with respect to the support structure such that, during the rotational movement of the aerodynamic component, a center of rotation of the aerodynamic component is translated from a neutral position to an adjusted position. The second coupling unit pivotably moves the aerodynamic component about a pivot axis at the support structure.