Researchers in Germany have successfully tested a flexible skin for wings which reduces aircraft noise.
The artificial skin, which is made of synthetic rubber and glass-fibre reinforced composites was tested on a demonstration modelby the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), Invent GmbHand theTechnical University of Munich as part of the FlexMat project.
Some of the noise from an aircrafts wing is generated where high-lift devices and control surfaces meet the wing and there is an abrupt transition between these aerofoils and the air flowing around them to the fixed part of the wing.
For the study, engineers developed a wing where direct transitions between the fixed part of the wing and the moving control surfaces or high-lift devices were avoided. Instead they were achieved with a flexible skin between the fixed wing and the moving components.
The skin had to be able to withstand extreme aerodynamic loads, but must not be too stiff, otherwise the systems driving the moving components would have to be able to exert additional force.
Martin Radestock of theDLR Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systemsin Braunschweig said, Continuous transitions between flap systems and the main aerofoil would be a huge advantage for future laminar flow wings, which allow air to pass around them without turbulence. This could reduce airflow turbulence and ensure laminar stability.
Laminar flow wings result in lower drag, which is beneficial for the environment.
An aircraft configuration based on the Airbus A320 provided the foundation for research on FlexMat.
We concentrated on the outboard area of the wing, said Radestock. The slat on the leading edge was replaced with a variable-shape leading edge, referred to as a droop flap, which was developed and researched at our institute back in 2007. We also installed our transition skin. A transition triangle from the Technical University of Munich was applied between the aileron and the trailing edge of the wing.
The FlexMat demonstrator wing
The transition skin tested by DLR has a span of 1m. It consists synthetic rubber ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) and glass-fibre reinforced composites.
The deformation properties of the transition skin can be adjusted by means of the flexible rubber and the positioning of the rigid glass-fibre strips. The researchers aimed to keep local deformations to a minimum, so that the glass-fibre composites and rubber did not separate.
The final tests using a demonstrator showed that the wing skin being tested is very hard-wearing and can be deformed to a large extent, said Radestock. In the event of extreme deformation, the only thing that needs care is the paintwork, to make sure that it does not crack.
Testing showed that the use of a flexible skin on wing leading edges is feasible. Further testing will be necessary to check the extent to which noise and drag can be reduced using this technique and the maximum load limit of the skin, DLR said.
Read the original:
Research into flexible aircraft wing surfaces at DLR - Aerospace Testing International
- why can't i print in the message area? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- smoke detectors - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Insulation drawings - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Boiler. - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Electrical Harmonics - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- axial thrust - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Pl inform which make suitable for this specification - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- CapsLock - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- How to Calculate Drag Reduction Factor for surge analysis - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- cable..pls help - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- 11Kv joints - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- how to calculate required torque? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- IP rating for enclosures - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- 11kv JOINTS SPACING ON PARALLEL CABLES - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- beep sounds - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Increse speed of pneumatic cylinder - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Pipe fittings-Manufacturing/Quality Assurance - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- kango memolition hammer - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Loss calculation in undergound Transmission Cables - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Design in ASP.NET - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- axial pump - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Auger bit - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Pipe - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Centrifugal oil filter ideas - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- When to install Horizontal Condensate Pot (Probably also called Spun Type) ?? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Confusion about a Resistance Bulb - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Loop testing for a NON-HART 4 wire instrument - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- My VAWT Project, next phase - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- voltage doubler - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- How to build corners and joints using Red Oak timbers? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- THERMAL OIL BOILER - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- How Do You Get a Degree in Green Energy? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- deareator pegging - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- 99 ford ranger with no brake pedal at all - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- CAD tool for electronic circuitry design - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- hvac - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Unfinalized video miniDVD data recovery - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- eletronics - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- codless phones programming - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Effectiveness in cooling a drink with ice than water? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Free Vibration Analysis of Tapered Composite Wings - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Can You Treat Composite Beams or Wings Mathematically like Isotropic Wings? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Particle, Particle in Space, Tell Me About Earthquakes - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Russian Rocket Engine – Best in the World - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New Online Evaluation of Laminated Composite Stiffnesses - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 'Autonomous' helicopters teach themselves to fly - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Next Target – Jupiter - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- NASA's FERMI, Space, and Time - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Lunchtime Salon Today in L.A. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- A vote for McCain is a vote against science - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- NASA Study Investigates Mental Overload in Pilots - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- NASA Releases Columbia Crew Safety Report - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What the Stimulus Package Means for Science - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- All Scientists Have Conflicts of Interest (Duh) - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Congress Considers Killing Open-Access Journals - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Transmission Swing Angle - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Long Weld Neck Flanges - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Super Critical Fluid Extraction for Rose Oil - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Capacitor Bank Calculations - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Power Supplies and Dummy Loads - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Standards for Piping Vibration - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Automatic Generator Changovers - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Synchronous Generators - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Suzuki Swift Brakes - Squeaks and Whistles - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Flange Serration - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Hydraulic Shapes and Reciprocating Machines - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- No Shortage of Engineers After All! - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Delta Starter Diagram - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- 2002 Chevy Duramax Diesel - Low Voltmeter Reading - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Energy Survey and Consumer Mapping Methodoogy - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Setback for Geothermal Energy - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Darlington Amplifier - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Diesel Storage Tank Design - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Car MPG Questions - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Dark LCD Display - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Calculating the Strength of Concrete Floors - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Hitachi Projection TV - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- WW II Water-Injected Engines - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Soap to Prevent A1H1N1 Contamination - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Car won't shift out of first gear - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]