Morphable Aircraft Surface with Temperature-Controlled Elastomer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrafts have rigid unchangeable surface structures, which limits their ability to optimize flight dynamics like birds, whose bodies adapt shape during flight. Existing morphable aerodynamic surface structures face challenges in being flexible, resilient, and maintaining a continuous aerodynamic surface during shape changes.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft morphable aerodynamic surface structure using an elastomeric material with a glass transition temperature, controlled by a temperature management system and a controller. This system allows for shape modification by heating or cooling the elastomeric material, maintaining a continuous aerodynamic surface and optimizing visco-elastic properties across the aircraft's operating temperature range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid unchangeable surface structure is used, then structural strength and stability are improved, but adaptability to different flight conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static rigid surface structure into a dynamic morphable structure. The elastomeric material enables continuous shape changes of the aircraft surface to adapt to different flight conditions (take-off, cruising, landing), while the temperature management system dynamically adjusts material properties. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the structure to be rigid when needed and flexible when adaptation is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing the glass transition temperature property of elastomeric materials. By changing the temperature parameter of the elastomeric material, its mechanical properties (rigidity vs. flexibility) are altered. The temperature management system heats or cools the material to achieve desired surface stiffness, enabling the structure to maintain strength when rigid while also achieving flexibility for morphing, thus resolving the contradiction between structural strength and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the elastomeric material is kept flexible for shape change, then adaptability is improved, but resistance to harsh in-flight conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by controlling the temperature of the elastomeric material relative to its glass transition temperature. When flexibility is needed for shape change, the material is heated above Tg. When resistance to harsh conditions (erosion, impact) is needed, the material is cooled below Tg to become rigid and resilient. This temperature-controlled parameter change allows the material to switch between flexible and resilient states as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic action through the temperature management system that periodically or cyclically adjusts the temperature of the elastomeric material based on flight phase requirements. During take-off and landing, the material may be heated for flexibility; during cruising at high altitude, it may be cooled for resilience against erosion and impact. This periodic switching between thermal states enables the material to maintain both shape change capacity and resistance to in-flight conditions at different times.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the aircraft surface is made morphable to optimize flight dynamics, then adaptability is improved, but maintaining a continuous aerodynamic surface becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the flexible shells and thin films principle by using an elastomeric material as a continuous flexible skin that can morph while maintaining surface continuity. Unlike rigid segmented surfaces that require joints and gaps, the elastomeric material forms a seamless continuous surface that can change shape smoothly. This resolves the contradiction by enabling flight dynamics optimization through morphing while maintaining aerodynamic surface continuity through the flexible film nature of the elastomeric material.
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 solution enables the aircraft to maintain a continuous aerodynamic surface during shape changes, optimizing flight performance by reducing drag and adapting to various flight conditions such as take-off, cruising, and landing.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric material having a glass transition temperature, and a controller to control a temperature management system that is for changing a temperature of the elastomeric material
Implementation Method 2
Being able to change a temperature of the elastomeric material allows the elastomeric material to have the required visco-elastic properties over an entire operating temperature range
Implementation Method 3
the heating system comprises a heatable material and is configured to cause heating of the heatable material to cause heat to be transferred from the heatable material to the elastomeric material
Implementation Method 4
cooling the elastomeric material stiffens the elastomeric material and thus reduces flutter or other small scale deformation of the elastomeric material due to airflow
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft morphable aerodynamic surface structure including an elastomeric material having a glass transition temperature, a temperature management system for heating or cooling the elastomeric material, and a controller to control the temperature management system, the controller configured to control the temperature management system on the basis of a command received at the controller.