Aircraft Slat Trailing Edge Segmentation for Stiffness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft slats and other aerodynamic devices face challenges in maintaining effective lift while minimizing weight and complexity, as they need to be stiff and strong to handle aerodynamic loads, leading to high stress levels and potential deformation, and are typically limited in length due to mounting constraints.
Innovation Solution
The aerodynamic device features a trailing edge section with chordwise extending segments that are moveable in a spanwise direction, reducing in-plane bending stiffness, allowing for longer devices with multiple support points and maintaining aerodynamic profile through slots or composite materials with directional fibre layers biased in the chordwise orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the slat is made stiffer and stronger to support aerodynamic loads, then the stress level increases and weight increases, but the device can be made longer and fewer devices are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing edge section is divided into multiple chordwise extending segments that can move independently in the spanwise direction. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized for strength while reducing overall device weight through the moveable connection mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The trailing edge segments are made moveable relative to each other in the spanwise direction, transforming the structure from static to dynamic. This allows the structure to adapt to aerodynamic loads while maintaining lower weight compared to a fully rigid construction
2Productivity
If the slat length is increased to provide additional lift, then fewer devices are needed, but the device complexity and mounting constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the trailing edge into multiple segments simplifies the mounting requirements compared to a single long rigid structure. Each segment can be mounted independently, reducing the complexity of support structures while achieving the same or greater lift generation
3Productivity
If multiple slats are used to provide additional lift, then the required lift is achieved, but the part count and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple chordwise segments are merged into a single integrated aerodynamic device with moveable connections. This allows the device to function as one unified component rather than multiple separate slats, reducing part count while maintaining lift generation capability
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
This design reduces in-plane bending stiffness by up to half, enabling longer slats with fewer devices, lower stress levels, and reduced weight, while maintaining aerodynamic performance and allowing for effective load transfer.
Implementation Method 1
When deployed, they translate forwards away from the leading edge of the wing and rotate downwards away from the wing. The slats effectively increase the area of the wing and provide additional lift to the wing.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an aerodynamic device configured for being mounted to an aerodynamic structure of an aircraft, the aerodynamic device having a spanwise length, a chordwise width, a leading edge section along a leading edge of the device, for being mounted to the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft, and a trailing edge section along a trailing edge of the device, for providing a required aerodynamic profile, wherein a first chordwise extending segment of the trailing edge section is moveable in a spanwise direction with respect to the leading edge section or with respect to a second chordwise extending segment of the trailing edge section.