Optimized Design of Aircraft Control Surface Driving Structure Based on Shape Memory Alloy

Abstract

Abstract A driving structure using the shape memory alloy (SMA) wire to deflect an aircraft control surface was designed in this study. Instead of changing angle mounts or other conventional methods for changing the attitude angle of aircraft control surfaces, this driving structure drew on the existing idea of smart material SMA driven aileron deformation. The main contribution of this study is the optimization of the rib design inside the control surface: ribs with different numbers of hinged sections were evaluated and the location of the SMA wires were adjusted, to improve the range of achievable deflection angles and the ability of the rib to withstand aerodynamic force. Simulation results show that the use of a three-section or four-section rib effectively improves the aerodynamic effect of the control surface over the use of a two-section rib, especially under the action of larger aerodynamic forces; compared with a two-section rib, a four-section rib provides a deflection angle as much as 20% larger under aerodynamic pressure.