OPTIMIZATION FRAMEWORK FOR STIFFNESS AND LAYOUT TAYLORING OF A MORPHING HIGH LIFT SYSTEM

Abstract

At the Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems (FA, Prof. Wiedemann) of the DLR a process chain for development of flexible and gapless wing leading edge is being evolved within the framework of the collaborative research center SFB880. The main topic of the research is to achieve the exceedingly high grade of leading edge morphing which is a key technology for realizing an active blown Coand˘a-flap based high lift system. The overall smart droop nose concept was formed in cooperation with Airbus and EADS, whereby the DLR Institute FA dealt with the design and manufacturing technologies of the morphable composite skin. Due to the fact that the novel high lift system in SFB880 requires considerably more droop (>300%) than achieved before, a new approach based on optimization of the skin and the actuation kinematics in a loop was chosen. An additional feature of the new approach is the application of compliant mechanisms for a beneficial distribution of the skin loads. The content of this paper is formed by the detailed presentation of the framework for topology optimization of a composite skin combined with an actuation kinematics established at the institute FA of the DLR.