Compliant Root Structure for Airfoil Fuselage Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airplane designs with rigidly affixed airfoils to the fuselage experience undesirable perturbations and structural loads due to abrupt aerodynamic loads in turbulent atmospheres, leading to occupant discomfort and high peak loads, with existing solutions like active suspension systems being unfeasible for smaller aircraft due to complexity and power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A compliant root structure comprising upper and lower connecting arms with a spring means, such as a leaf spring assembly or shock absorbers, that allows the airfoil to displace relative to the fuselage, maintaining a constant lift vector direction and providing a restoring force to dampen dynamic responses, along with optional stiffening mechanisms and extension arms for aerodynamic force control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If airfoils are rigidly affixed to the fuselage, then structural strength is improved, but fuselage perturbations and structural loads increase under turbulent conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static rigid connection with a dynamic compliant root structure that allows controlled movement. The connecting arms with pivot joints enable the airfoil to displace relative to the fuselage in response to turbulent loads, while the spring means provides restoring force. This dynamic system absorbs energy from abrupt aerodynamic loads, reducing fuselage perturbations while maintaining structural integrity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wings are designed with high flexure to dampen abrupt aerodynamic loads, then occupant comfort is improved, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wing-root connection into multiple functional components: upper and lower connecting arms for structural support, pivot joints for controlled movement, and spring means for load damping. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the arms maintain structural strength while the pivot joints and springs provide the necessary compliance to dampen loads and improve occupant comfort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If active suspension systems with actuators and sensors are used to connect wings to fuselage, then fuselage perturbations are reduced, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compliant root structure is a self-service passive system that automatically responds to turbulent loads without requiring external control. The spring means naturally provides restoring force when the airfoil displaces from its steady state position, and the pivot joints automatically allow controlled movement. This eliminates the need for sensors, actuators, and onboard computers, significantly reducing system complexity and power requirements while still effectively reducing fuselage perturbations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the airfoil is allowed to displace relative to the fuselage, then abrupt aerodynamic loads are dampened, but lift vector direction control becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamics by allowing the airfoil to displace dynamically in response to turbulent loads while maintaining lift vector direction through the geometric configuration of the connecting arms. The pivot joints enable movement perpendicular to the spanwise and chordwise axes, and the spring means provides restoring force to return the airfoil to its steady state position, thereby dampening abrupt loads while preserving stable lift vector direction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compliant root structure effectively reduces fuselage perturbations, minimizes structural stresses, and maintains optimal lift vector direction without requiring a power source or computer, enhancing occupant comfort and flight stability while being adaptable for various aircraft sizes.
Implementation Method 1
The spring means provides a restoring force to the airfoil when displaced relative to the fuselage structure beyond a steady state position
Implementation Method 2
The upper connecting arms and lower connecting arms pivotally connect an airfoil to a fuselage structure
Data Source
AI summary
A compliant root structure for connecting an airfoil to a fuselage structure capable of dampening the dynamic response of the fuselage structure when the airfoil encounters abrupt aerodynamic loads due to a turbulent atmosphere. The compliant root structure includes a connecting arm(s) that pivotally connects the airfoil to the fuselage structure so that the airfoil can displace relative to the fuselage structure in the direction relatively perpendicular to the spanwise and chordwise axes of the airfoil. A restoring force can be provided by the compliant root structure (for example, by spring means) to the airfoil when it is displaced relative to the fuselage. In some embodiments, the connecting arms can exhibit relatively high flexibility, and can be adapted to interconnect the airfoil and the fuselage by means of rigid joints. The flexibility of these connecting arms may eliminate the need for a separate spring means.