Design, Simulation, and Wind Tunnel Verication of a Morphing Airfoil

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dc.contributor.authorGustafson, Eric Andrewen
dc.contributor.committeechairKochersberger, Kevin B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCanfield, Robert A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberInman, Daniel J.en
dc.contributor.departmentMechanical Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:40:16Zen
dc.date.adate2011-09-02en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:40:16Zen
dc.date.issued2011-05-25en
dc.date.rdate2012-09-02en
dc.date.sdate2011-06-20en
dc.description.abstractThe application of smart materials to control the flight dynamics of a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) has numerous benefits over traditional servomechanisms. Under study is wing morphing achieved through the use of piezoelectric Macro Fiber Composites (MFCs). These devices exhibit low power draw but excellent bandwidth characteristics. This thesis provides a background in the 2D analytical and computer modeling tools and methods needed to design and characterize an MFC-actuated airfoil. A composite airfoil is designed with embedded MFCs in a bimorph configuration. The deflection capabilities under actuation are predicted with the commercial finite element package NX Nastran. Placement of the piezoelectric actuator is studied for optimal effectiveness. A thermal analogy is used to represent piezoelectric strain. Lift and drag coefficients in low Reynolds number flow are explored with XFOIL. Predictions are made on static aeroelastic effects. The thin, cambered Generic Micro Aerial Vehicle (GenMAV) airfoil is fabricated with a bimorph actuator. Experimental data are taken with and without aerodynamic loading to validate the computer model. This is accomplished with in-house 2D wind tunnel testing.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-06202011-160921en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06202011-160921/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/33663en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartGustafson_EA_T_2011.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectMacro Fiber Compositeen
dc.subjectMorphingen
dc.subjectThin Cambered Airfoilen
dc.subjectGenMAVen
dc.titleDesign, Simulation, and Wind Tunnel Verication of a Morphing Airfoilen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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