Session: 06-03-01: Advances in Aerospace Structures and Materials-1

Paper Number: 166674

Trade-Off Between Morphing Architectures of Horizontal Empennages for Aircraft of the Next Generation 

This paper deals with the trade-off between two morphing architectures conceived for an aircraft horizontal equilibrator with enhanced authority. The activities herein illustrated are part of the Project “Hybrid-Electric Regional Fuselage & Empennages” - HERFUSE (Clean Aviation). In particular, the reference aircraft is characterized by an innovative configuration which foresees the introduction of new systems in the fuselage, thus affecting the centre of gravity of the aircraft and consequently its stability and manoeuvrability performance.

In this scenario, a lighter and, at the same time, more effective empennage can make the difference. The HERFUSE project, in line with this consideration, aims at developing a fuselage and empennages optimized from a structural point of view; in addition, the equilibrator part is replaced by a novel concept, based on the morphing strategy. Indeed, the main idea is to obtain a movable part capable of large, smooth and continuous deflections, increasing the authority of the movable part.

The CIRA role within HERFUSE relies on the study of two different morphing architectures by means of a dedicated trade-off. The first design is based on a kinematic chain that alters the curvature of the trailing edge, driving the relative rotation among the subparts. The second configuration, instead, is based on compliant systems and addresses the desired actuation by suitably deforming the structural parts.

The work starts with an overview of the most appropriate morphing concepts present in literature. The focus of the research is on the two main families of morphing: kinematic and compliant. Then, the selection of a couple of them is addressed on the basis of specific criteria including the simplicity, the compactness, the capability of producing morphing, the weight. This operation is performed by means of simple numerical models that highlight the capability of producing morphing. Static analyses, with and without the operational loads, will be implemented to verify the capability of the structure of withstanding the external actions and producing the prescribed morphing deflection. The same models and advanced dedicated criteria are finally implemented to make a comparison between the architectures, that represents an important starting point for the next phases of the Project.

 

 

Acknowledgement

The Project HERFUSE (Hybrid-Electric Regional Fuselage & Empennages) is supported by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and its members.

 

Disclaimer

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Presenting Author: Luigi Frettoloso CIRA SCpA

Presenting Author Biography: Luigi Frettoloso earned the degree in Mechanical Engineering under the old academic system at the Second University of Naples in 2007. Throughout the professional journey, he has focused on structural analysis and virtual simulations. He worked as engineering consultant within leading Italian industrial companies, operating in Aerospace and Automotive fields. He is currently workig as researcher in the Adaptive Structure Operative Unit of Cira.

Authors:

Luigi Frettoloso CIRA SCpA
Salvatore Ameduri CIRA SCpA
Luigi Mangiacrapa CIRA SCpA
Maria Chiara Noviello CIRA SCpA
Ignazio Dimino CIRA SCpA
Antonio Concilio CIRA SCpA
Domenico Cristillo CIRA SCpA
Antonio Chiariello CIRA SCpA
Antonio Gabriele Sodano CIRA SCpA
Diego Giuseppe Romano CIRA SCpA
Marika Belardo CIRA SCpA