Experimental investigation of an autonomous flap for load alleviation

Lars O. Bernhammer, Sachin T. Navalkar, Jurij Sodja, Roeland De Breuker, Moti Karpel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental aeroservoelastic investigation of a novel load al-leviation concept using trailing edge aps. These aps are autonomous units, which are self-powered and self-actuated, using trailing edge tabs, thereby demonstrating advantages in comparison with conventional ap systems in terms of wiring and structural integration. The aps are free-oating and mass underbalanced, such that they may utter at operation velocities unless suppressed by their own control system. This makes the system very re-sponsive for turbulence and control action. In the wind tunnel campaign presented in this paper, the limit cycle behavior of autonomous, free-oating aps was investigated. It has been shown that limit cycle oscillation can be reached either through structural limiters or by control actions of the trailing edge tabs. In the latter case, the amplitude of the limit cycle oscillation is adjustable to the required energy output. An energy balance of har-vested power and power consumption for actuators and sensing system was made showing that the vibration energy of limit cycle oscillations can be used to keep the amplitude of the limit cycle constant, while the electric batteries that power the load alleviation system are being charged.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings 56th AIAA/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference
Place of PublicationReston, VA, USA
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. (AIAA)
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781624103421
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Event56th AIAA/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference 2015 - Kissimmee, United States
Duration: 5 Jan 20159 Jan 2015

Conference

Conference56th AIAA/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityKissimmee
Period5/01/159/01/15

Keywords

  • Aeroelastic instability
  • Autonomous free-floating flap
  • Wind tunnel experiments

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