FULL-SCALE WIND TUNNEL PROTOTYPE EQUIPPED WITH THE MORPHING AILERON

This is the second episode of Season 1, entitled 'Meet the Researchers', featuring an interview with Alessandro De Gaspari, Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano and task leader within the work package "Technology Enablers" led by GKN Aerospace.

In this episode, a smart, shape-changing aileron is discussed that replaces the old-school rotating kind, offering benefits in terms of lower aerodynamic drag, lower weight and better maneuverability.

This morphing device is also compatible with control frequencies up to 10 Hz, having been designed to limit the required actuation forces within its actuation bandwidth. Right now, Politecnico di Milano is building a full-size version to test in a wind tunnel.

PoliMi has extensive experience with technologies related to morphing wings. You can explore more in this publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263822324006305?via%3Dihub

The activity described in this video is part of the EU project named HERWINGT that aims to design a novel wing that is ideal for the future hybrid-electric aircraft of the regional segment and to develop architectures, structures, and technologies that allow higher integration of electric systems.

Target is a 50% fuel burn reduction, at the aircraft level, in three different ways:

  • Developing state-of-the-art wing configurations and improved aerodynamics, leading to drag reduction and enabling a fuel burn reduction of 15% at the wing component level.
  • Wing structures, more integrated systems, and new material technologies resulting in a weight reduction of 20% at the component level.
  • The development of technologies equipping the wing with fuel systems that are compatible with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

By 2025, HERWINGT also commits to delivering:

  • Digital twins and a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the components, subsystems, and full wing systems compatible with the reference aircraft digital framework and requirements.
  • Α roadmap toward the full-scale wing demonstration at aircraft level with a first flight

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