Journal article 169 views
Active Hinged Wingtip Control for Reducing Wing Root Bending Moment
,
Shakir Jiffri ,
Michael Friswell
Journal of Aircraft, Volume: 62, Issue: 4, Pages: 847 - 856
Swansea University Authors:
JAMES ELLIS, Davide Balatti, Hamed Haddad Khodaparast , Shakir Jiffri , Michael Friswell
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.2514/1.c038141
Abstract
The development of lighter and more efficient transport aircraft has increased the focus on reducing gust loads. One recent design innovation is the use of hinged wingtip devices to increase the aspect ratio, thereby enhancing aircraft performance. Experimental tests have demonstrated that passive h...
| Published in: | Journal of Aircraft |
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| ISSN: | 0021-8669 1533-3868 |
| Published: |
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70411 |
| Abstract: |
The development of lighter and more efficient transport aircraft has increased the focus on reducing gust loads. One recent design innovation is the use of hinged wingtip devices to increase the aspect ratio, thereby enhancing aircraft performance. Experimental tests have demonstrated that passive hinged wingtips can provide additional gust load alleviation. This study introduces a brushed DC motor in the hinge to control wingtip rotation, improving gust load reduction through a proportional-derivative control. A lightweight wingtip was designed to be either freehinged or actively controlled by the motor, with the motor configuration also allowing for a fixed wingtip option. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to test responses to 1-cosine and harmonic gusts for all wingtip configurations to measure the root bending moment caused by gusts. Additionally, the effects of nonzero angles of attack at the root, simulating takeoff conditions, and varying starting fold angles of the wingtip were examined to determine their impact on root loads under gust conditions. The results showed that an active wingtip significantly reduces both positive and negative peaks in the root bending moment and identified some limitations of passive wingtips, such as flapping at higher gust frequencies. |
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| Keywords: |
Gust Load Alleviation, Active Control, Aeroelasticity |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
The authors of this work would like to give thanks to the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account. James D. Ellis would also acknowledge the EPSRC Doctoral Training Programme and the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swansea University. |
| Issue: |
4 |
| Start Page: |
847 |
| End Page: |
856 |