Innovative Blade Trailing Edge Flap Design Concept using Flexible Torsion Bar and Worm Drive

Abstract

In this paper, a simple but effective trailing edge flap system was proposed. This preliminary concept uses a more practical and stable actuation system which consists of a motor-driven worm gear drive and flexible torsion bar. The flexible torsion bar is designed to be easily twisted while keeping bending rigidity as a sup-port and the worm gear drive not only provides a high torque to overcome aero-dynamic forces on the flap area and the torsional rigidity of the support bar, but also acts as a brake to avoid instability due to the high torsional flexibility of sup-port bar. A preliminary level design study was performed to show the applicability of the new trailing edge flap system for wind turbine rotor blade or helicopter blade.