Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism
Following the promising performance of the seamless morphing trailing edge (SMTE) flap and its internal actuation system, the elephant trunk mechanism (ETM), investigated through aerodynamic and structural analyses, this study presents an experimental analysis of the SMTE flap equipped with an eleph...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5570 |
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| author | Mir Hossein Negahban Tarek Saci Ruxandra Mihaela Botez |
| author_facet | Mir Hossein Negahban Tarek Saci Ruxandra Mihaela Botez |
| author_sort | Mir Hossein Negahban |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Following the promising performance of the seamless morphing trailing edge (SMTE) flap and its internal actuation system, the elephant trunk mechanism (ETM), investigated through aerodynamic and structural analyses, this study presents an experimental analysis of the SMTE flap equipped with an elephant trunk actuation mechanism. The morphing wing model was prototyped using a 3D printer. Four elephant trunk morphing ribs were embedded inside the flap section, all covered with a flexible skin. The control system for flap actuation was installed in the wing box corresponding to four elephant trunk mechanisms using an appropriate graphical interface to control the SMTE flap deflections. The completed model was further tested in a subsonic wind tunnel to validate the numerical aerodynamic results, as well as the functionality of the elephant trunk mechanism in real conditions. The results confirm the reliability and practicability of the proposed elephant trunk mechanism for actuation, and a very good agreement was obtained between the numerical aerodynamic data and wind tunnel test results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-64dcd08b59974589ac24b814fd79af06 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-64dcd08b59974589ac24b814fd79af062025-08-20T02:33:30ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011510557010.3390/app15105570Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation MechanismMir Hossein Negahban0Tarek Saci1Ruxandra Mihaela Botez2LARCASE Laboratory of Applied Research in Active Controls, Avionics and Aeroservoelasticity, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, CanadaLARCASE Laboratory of Applied Research in Active Controls, Avionics and Aeroservoelasticity, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, CanadaLARCASE Laboratory of Applied Research in Active Controls, Avionics and Aeroservoelasticity, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, CanadaFollowing the promising performance of the seamless morphing trailing edge (SMTE) flap and its internal actuation system, the elephant trunk mechanism (ETM), investigated through aerodynamic and structural analyses, this study presents an experimental analysis of the SMTE flap equipped with an elephant trunk actuation mechanism. The morphing wing model was prototyped using a 3D printer. Four elephant trunk morphing ribs were embedded inside the flap section, all covered with a flexible skin. The control system for flap actuation was installed in the wing box corresponding to four elephant trunk mechanisms using an appropriate graphical interface to control the SMTE flap deflections. The completed model was further tested in a subsonic wind tunnel to validate the numerical aerodynamic results, as well as the functionality of the elephant trunk mechanism in real conditions. The results confirm the reliability and practicability of the proposed elephant trunk mechanism for actuation, and a very good agreement was obtained between the numerical aerodynamic data and wind tunnel test results.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5570seamless morphing trailing edge flap (SMTE)elephant trunk mechanism (ETM)subsonic wind tunnel3D printingprototypingactuation system |
| spellingShingle | Mir Hossein Negahban Tarek Saci Ruxandra Mihaela Botez Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism Applied Sciences seamless morphing trailing edge flap (SMTE) elephant trunk mechanism (ETM) subsonic wind tunnel 3D printing prototyping actuation system |
| title | Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism |
| title_full | Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism |
| title_fullStr | Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism |
| title_short | Development and Experimental Study of a Seamless Morphing Trailing Edge Flap Equipped with an Elephant Trunk Actuation Mechanism |
| title_sort | development and experimental study of a seamless morphing trailing edge flap equipped with an elephant trunk actuation mechanism |
| topic | seamless morphing trailing edge flap (SMTE) elephant trunk mechanism (ETM) subsonic wind tunnel 3D printing prototyping actuation system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5570 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mirhosseinnegahban developmentandexperimentalstudyofaseamlessmorphingtrailingedgeflapequippedwithanelephanttrunkactuationmechanism AT tareksaci developmentandexperimentalstudyofaseamlessmorphingtrailingedgeflapequippedwithanelephanttrunkactuationmechanism AT ruxandramihaelabotez developmentandexperimentalstudyofaseamlessmorphingtrailingedgeflapequippedwithanelephanttrunkactuationmechanism |