FLEXIBLE MATRIX COMPOSITES FOR USE IN PNEUMATIC ACTUATION TUBES FOR MORPHING AERO-STRUCTURES

摘要

Investigations and results will be presented which have been carried out in the SADE (Smart High Lift Devices for Next Generation Wings) project as part of the 7~(th) Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission. The project's aim is to create a seamless and gapless high lift device (droop nose) at the wing's leading edge with the goal to reduce the airframe's noise and drag and enable laminar wing flow. To reduce system-complexity and also to achieve the required surface shape, the idea is to continuously support the skin through a system of inflatable actuation-tubes. This actuation concept will work pneumatically and make use of flexible matrix composites (FMC). In the first part of this paper results of tensile tests of FMCs will be presented and compared to Finite Element (FE)-simulations. The second part focuses on the design of single actuation tubes regarding the shape, fiber, layup and manufacturing. Combining a tube-like geometry and a variable fiber-angle layup enables a wide range of deformation possibilities (large design freedom of movement behaviour).