Shape Adaptive Airfoil with Winglet Control Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft designs face performance compromises due to fixed airfoil surfaces, which are optimized for specific flight conditions, leading to diminished performance across a range of environments, and incorporating additional movable airfoil components is unappealing due to space and weight constraints.
Innovation Solution
A shape adaptive airfoil system with adaptive control structures at the leading and trailing edges of winglets, allowing for changes in camber profile and toe angle, enabling optimization across various flight conditions without the need for additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed airfoil surfaces are used, then the airfoil is optimized for specific flight conditions, but performance diminishes across a range of environments
Solution Approach 1:
The airfoil employs adaptive control structures that enable dynamic shape modification. The control structures at the leading and trailing edges can change the camber profile and toe angle of the winglet, allowing the airfoil to adapt its configuration for different flight conditions such as low-speed high-lift and high-speed low-drag regimes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes geometric parameters of the airfoil by modifying the camber profile through adaptive control structures. By adjusting the camber and toe angle parameters, the airfoil optimizes its aerodynamic characteristics for varying flight conditions without requiring multiple fixed configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional movable airfoil components are incorporated, then aerodynamic optimization is improved, but weight and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptive control structures serve multiple functions: they modify the camber profile for lift optimization, adjust the toe angle for drag reduction, and can be integrated into existing winglet structures. This multi-functionality allows aerodynamic optimization without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the adaptive control structures with the existing winglet and airfoil components. The control structures are integrated into the leading and trailing edges of the winglet, combining aerodynamic optimization functions with structural elements rather than adding separate movable components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional movable airfoil components are incorporated, then aerodynamic optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptive control structures are merged with existing airfoil components such as the winglet and trailing edge structures. This integration approach allows aerodynamic optimization to be achieved through modified existing components rather than adding numerous separate movable parts.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method are provided for a shape adaptive airfoil configured to be coupled with a tip of an airplane wing. In one embodiment, the shape adaptive airfoil is a blended winglet comprised of a base section coupled with the airplane wing, a blade section projecting in a vertical direction above the base section, and a radius section interconnecting the base and blade sections. Adaptive control structures may be incorporated into leading and trailing edges of the base section and the blade section. The adaptive control structures of the base section may facilitate changing a camber profile of the shape adaptive airfoil. The adaptive control structures of the blade section may enable changes to a toe angle of the blade section.