Francesca Fusi, Giuseppe Quaranta, Pietro M. Congedo

DOI Number: N/A

Conference number: IFASD-2017-070

An aerodynamic optimization method is developed to define robust shapes for morphing airfoils for helicopter blades. The morphing strategy consists of a conformable camber airfoil which changes over the period of rotation of the blade to cope with the variable flow conditions encountered in forward flight. The paper is then focused on an aerodynamic optimization to set the optimal shape with respect to performance, where technological aspects are inserted through geometrical constraints. In fact, this paper presents an exploratory work on morphing geometries which aims at understanding the relationship between shape degree of freedom and actual aerodynamic gain. A robust or uncertainty-based approach is used to compute a reliable morphing airfoil, providing a low variance with respect to uncertainty affecting the operating conditions. In order to assess the effectiveness of the robust method, several optimization problems are performed, from a classical two-point drag minimization with lift coefficient constraint to a robust morphing camber optimization. The results of the optimization problems are compared and discussed to highlight the features of the robust approach. Exploring and demonstrating the gain of the aerodynamic shape may drive the development of new mechanism for the realization of morphing structures.

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In Categories: 1.Events, Active Control and Adaptive Structures, IFASD 2017
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