Development and design of flexible Fowler flaps for an adaptive wing

Hans Peter Monner; Holger Hanselka; Elmar J. Breitbach

doi:10.1117/12.310673

16 June 1998 Development and design of flexible Fowler flaps for an adaptive wing

Hans Peter Monner, Holger Hanselka, Elmar J. Breitbach

Proceedings Volume 3326, Smart Structures and Materials 1998: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.310673
Event: 5th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Civil transport airplanes fly with fixed geometry wings optimized only for one design point described by altitude, Mach number and airplane weight. These parameters vary continuously during flight, to which means the wing geometry seldom is optimal. According to aerodynamic investigations a chordwide variation of the wing camber leads to improvements in operational flexibility, buffet boundaries and performance resulting in reduction of fuel consumption. A spanwise differential camber variation allows to gain control over spanwise lift distributions reducing wing root bending moments. This paper describes the design of flexible Fowler flaps for an adaptive wing to be used in civil transport aircraft that allows both a chordwise as well as spanwise differential camber variation during flight. Since both lower and upper skins are flexed by active ribs, the camber variation is achieved with a smooth contour and without any additional gaps.

Citation Download Citation

Hans Peter Monner, Holger Hanselka, and Elmar J. Breitbach "Development and design of flexible Fowler flaps for an adaptive wing", Proc. SPIE 3326, Smart Structures and Materials 1998: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, (16 June 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.310673

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