Pneumatische Skelette - morphenden Strukturen aus dem 3D-Drucker

Abstract

A new morphing wing trailing edge featuring cells that elongate due to pressurised air demonstrates multiple smooth shape changes in wing camber, chord length, twist, sweep, and taper. Fabricated from PolyJet and composite 3D printing, the 400-millimetre chord prototype combines rubber-like and rigid-like digital materials in a way similar to hydrostatic skeletons found in nature. Each cell is orthotropic in stiffness, with low stiffness in the axial direction and high stiffness in the perpendicular direction, allowing the cell to elongate with low perpendicular deformation. Pressurising different combinations of cells leads to the different mode shapes. The six-cell demonstrator deflects ± 18 degrees at 1.5 bar and research is ongoing to increase size, material stiffness, and working pressure. Such a morphing device may reduce fuel and harmful aircraft emissions by adapting wing size and geometry smoothly in three dimensions in flight.