Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters

The optimal design of an airfoil varies across flight conditions, motivating the search for ways to implement adaptive designs. This study proposes an integrated framework for morphing airfoils using shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuators, targeting improved lift-to-drag (L/D) ratios during quasi-steady...

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Main Authors: Raed Bourisli, Nesrin Ibrahim, Mohammed Alajmi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19942060.2025.2525904
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author Raed Bourisli
Nesrin Ibrahim
Mohammed Alajmi
author_facet Raed Bourisli
Nesrin Ibrahim
Mohammed Alajmi
author_sort Raed Bourisli
collection DOAJ
description The optimal design of an airfoil varies across flight conditions, motivating the search for ways to implement adaptive designs. This study proposes an integrated framework for morphing airfoils using shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuators, targeting improved lift-to-drag (L/D) ratios during quasi-steady flight. Airfoils are parameterized using the PARSEC method and optimized using particle swarm optimization (PSO), with CFD evaluations conducted in COMSOL. A PID-controlled SMA model implements the resulting shapes through voltage-controlled deformation, simulated in Simscape. This setup allows aerodynamic performance to be optimized while respecting actuation and control constraints. Validation against benchmark data confirms solver accuracy, and actuator tracking performance is demonstrated with displacement errors below 0.6%. The framework bridges aerodynamic design and real-time implementation, highlighting SMA's suitability for cruise-phase morphing. While the current study focuses on fixed-wing applications, future work may extend the approach to adaptive UAVs or other domains requiring geometry-responsive actuation.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1994-2060
1997-003X
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics
spelling doaj-art-e70d85eedbc44f69a66c4a978b54bc792025-08-20T03:28:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEngineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics1994-20601997-003X2025-12-0119110.1080/19942060.2025.2525904Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parametersRaed Bourisli0Nesrin Ibrahim1Mohammed Alajmi2Mechanical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, Safat, KuwaitMechanical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, Safat, KuwaitMechanical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, Safat, KuwaitThe optimal design of an airfoil varies across flight conditions, motivating the search for ways to implement adaptive designs. This study proposes an integrated framework for morphing airfoils using shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuators, targeting improved lift-to-drag (L/D) ratios during quasi-steady flight. Airfoils are parameterized using the PARSEC method and optimized using particle swarm optimization (PSO), with CFD evaluations conducted in COMSOL. A PID-controlled SMA model implements the resulting shapes through voltage-controlled deformation, simulated in Simscape. This setup allows aerodynamic performance to be optimized while respecting actuation and control constraints. Validation against benchmark data confirms solver accuracy, and actuator tracking performance is demonstrated with displacement errors below 0.6%. The framework bridges aerodynamic design and real-time implementation, highlighting SMA's suitability for cruise-phase morphing. While the current study focuses on fixed-wing applications, future work may extend the approach to adaptive UAVs or other domains requiring geometry-responsive actuation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19942060.2025.2525904Airfoil optimizationparticle swarm optimizationPARSEC parameterizationsmart materialsshape-memory alloyfeedback control
spellingShingle Raed Bourisli
Nesrin Ibrahim
Mohammed Alajmi
Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters
Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics
Airfoil optimization
particle swarm optimization
PARSEC parameterization
smart materials
shape-memory alloy
feedback control
title Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters
title_full Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters
title_fullStr Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters
title_full_unstemmed Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters
title_short Morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift-to-drag ratio using shape-memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of PARSEC parameters
title_sort morphing and control of airfoils for optimum lift to drag ratio using shape memory alloy with particle swarm optimization of parsec parameters
topic Airfoil optimization
particle swarm optimization
PARSEC parameterization
smart materials
shape-memory alloy
feedback control
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19942060.2025.2525904
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AT nesrinibrahim morphingandcontrolofairfoilsforoptimumlifttodragratiousingshapememoryalloywithparticleswarmoptimizationofparsecparameters
AT mohammedalajmi morphingandcontrolofairfoilsforoptimumlifttodragratiousingshapememoryalloywithparticleswarmoptimizationofparsecparameters