Comparative study on aerodynamics and control reversal characteristics of adaptive wings with flexible trailing edge

This paper aims at presenting an investigation into aerodynamics and control reversal characteristics of adaptive wings with seamless, variable camber, flexible trailing edge. Two-dimensional wing models are comparatively studied in terms of lift, moment and control effectiveness. They are configured with a rigid trailing edge and three types of flexible trailing edge based on the concept of rotating ribs. The results of aerodynamic calculation demonstrate that flexible trailing edges provide both a larger lift and lift to drag ratio, as well as a larger negative pitch moment due to the pressure center moving backward. The two-dimensional wing models supported at elastic centre with torsion stiffness are adopted to compare the control effectiveness among different trailing edges. It is shown that the rigid trailing edge has the largest reversal dynamic pressure and the highest lift effectiveness due to the lowest negative pitch moment and it is suggested that the possible approach to improve the lift and roll effectiveness of the adaptive wing with flexible trailing edge is the combination of leading edge and trailing edge control surface.