Noise Reduction in a High Lift Wing Using SMAs: Computational Fluid-Structural Analysis

Author(s):  
William Scholten ◽  
Ryan Patterson ◽  
Darren Hartl ◽  
Thomas Strganac ◽  
Jeff Volpi ◽  
...  

The leading-edge-slat on an aircraft is a significant contributor to the airframe noise during the low speed maneuvers of approach and landing. It has been shown in previous work that the slat noise may be reduced with a slat-cove filler (SCF). The objective of this current work is to determine how the SMA SCF behaves under steady flow using finite element structural models and finite volume (FV) fluid models based on a scaled wind tunnel model of a newly considered multi-element wing with a SCF. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the wing is conducted at multiple angles of attack, different flow speeds and high lift device deployment states. The FV fluid models make use of overset meshes, which overlap a slave mesh (that can undergo movement and deformation) unto a fixed master mesh, allowing for retraction and deployment of the slat and flap in the CFD analysis. The structural and fluid models are linked using a previously developed framework that permits the use of custom user material subroutines (for superelastic response of the SMA material) in the structural model, allowing for the performance of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis. The fluid and structural solvers are weakly coupled such that the fluid solver transfers pressure data and the structural solver transfers displacements, but the physical quantities of each program are solved independently. FSI results are shown for the cases of the slat/SCF in the fully-deployed configuration as well as for the case of the slat/SCF undergoing retraction in flow.

Author(s):  
Gaetano Arena ◽  
Rainer Groh ◽  
Alberto Pirrera ◽  
William Scholten ◽  
Darren Hartl ◽  
...  

Exploiting mechanical instabilities and elastic nonlinearities is an emerging means for designing deployable structures. This methodology is applied here to investigate and tailor a morphing component used to reduce airframe noise, known as a slat-cove filler (SCF). The vortices in the cove between the leading edge slat and the main wing are among the important sources of airframe noise. The concept of an SCF was proposed in previous works as an effective means of mitigating slat noise by directing the airflow along an acoustically favorable path. A desirable SCF configuration is one that minimizes: (i) the energy required for deployment through a snap-through event; (ii) the severity of the snap-through event, as measured by kinetic energy, and (iii) mass. Additionally, the SCF must withstand cyclical fatigue stresses and displacement constraints. Both composite and shape memory alloy (SMA)-based SCFs are considered during approach and landing maneuvers because the deformation incurred in some regions may not demand the high strain recoverable capabilities of SMA materials. Nonlinear structural analyses of the dynamic behavior of a composite SCF are compared with analyses of similarly tailored SMA-based SCF and a reference, uniformly thick superelastic SMA-based SCF. Results show that by exploiting elastic nonlinearities, both the tailored composite and SMA designs decrease the required actuation energy compared to the uniformly thick SMA. Additionally, the choice of composite material facilitates a considerable weight reduction where the deformation requirement permits its use. Finally, the structural behavior of the SCF designs in flow are investigated by means of preliminary fluid-structure interaction analysis.


Author(s):  
Travis L. Turner ◽  
Reggie T. Kidd ◽  
Darren J. Hartl ◽  
William D. Scholten

Airframe noise is a significant part of the overall noise produced by typical, transport-class aircraft during the approach and landing phases of flight. Leading-edge slat noise is a prominent source of airframe noise. The concept of a slat-cove filler was proposed in previous work as an effective means of mitigating slat noise. Bench-top models were developed at 75% scale to study the feasibility of producing a functioning slat-cove filler. Initial results from several concepts led to a more-focused effort investigating a deformable structure based upon pseudoelastic SMA materials. The structure stows in the cavity between the slat and main wing during cruise and deploys simultaneously with the slat to guide the aerodynamic flow suitably for low noise. A qualitative parametric study of SMA-enabled, slat-cove filler designs was performed on the bench-top. Computational models were developed and analyses were performed to assess the displacement response under representative aerodynamic load. The bench-top and computational results provide significant insight into design trades and an optimal design.


Aerospace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srinivas Vasista ◽  
Johannes Riemenschneider ◽  
Ralf Keimer ◽  
Hans Peter Monner ◽  
Felix Nolte ◽  
...  

A design for a new high lift system that features a morphing wing leading edge “droop nose” has the potential to generate high lift coefficients whilst mitigating airframe noise emissions. This seamless, continuous, and stepless flexible droop nose potentially offers improvements to stall and compressor requirements for an internally-blown active Coandă trailing edge flap. A full-scale, span-trimmed three-dimensional droop nose was manufactured and ground-tested based on results obtained from new design synthesis tools. A new component of the droop nose is the hybrid fiberglass-elastomeric skin that is tailored in stiffness to meet morphing curvature requirements and spanwise bending resistance. A manufacturing concept of the novel skin was established that led to an adequate manufacturing quality. The skin was driven and supported by two optimized kinematic ribs and conventional actuators and overall shape results show good agreement apart from the region closest to the leading edge. Kinematic trajectory measurements showed that the kinematics met the target trajectories well, with and without the influence of the skin, and it was deemed that the error in curvature is due to a higher than expected skin stiffness in the hybrid layer. Calculated actuator torque levels and strain measurements corroborate this inference. The lessons learned show that means of adjustment post-assembly are needed, and a reduction of torque, energy and a better curvature distribution may be achieved if the skin at the spar junction is allowed to move relative to the main wing. Careful aerodynamic, structural, actuation and manufacturing trade-off studies would be needed to determine the overall performance benefit.


Author(s):  
William Scholten ◽  
Darren Hartl ◽  
Thomas Strganac ◽  
Travis Turner

During low speed maneuvers such as approach and landing, a significant component of the total environmental noise produced by a typical transport aircraft is associated with flow over the airframe, termed airframe noise. A key contributor to airframe noise is the leading-edge-slat, a high-lift device. Previous work showed that a slat-cove filler (SCF) may be effective at reducing the slat noise and optimal designs for an SMA-based SCF have been determined, considering stow/deploy and aerodynamic loads as well as other constraints for two realistic airframe configurations such that actuation force was minimized as the design objective. The objective of this current work is to further reduce the actuation force required to retract the SCF by an auxiliary method. The methods considered for force reduction are 1) utilization of structural instabilities in the SCF, 2) addition of auxiliary SMA actuators, and 3) replacement of selected metallic regions of the SCF with more compliant polymer-based alternatives. These methods are investigated using finite element analysis (FEA) models based on a physical bench-top model developed previously. The FEA models are also capable of modeling contact, complex load cases, and they benefit from the use of a custom user subroutine that captures the pseudoelastic response of SMA materials. For each of the three force reduction concepts considered, design optimizations are conducted using open source optimization codes and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm. An overall best design is proposed.


Author(s):  
William Scholten ◽  
Ryan Patterson ◽  
Makiah Eustice ◽  
Sebastian Cook ◽  
Darren Hartl ◽  
...  

Transport class aircraft produce a significant amount of airframe noise during approach and landing due to exposed geometric discontinuities that are hidden during cruise. The leading-edge slat is a primary contributor to this noise. In previous work, use of a slat-cove filler (SCF) has proven to reduce airframe noise by filling the cove aft of the slat, eliminating the circulation region within the cove. The goal of this work is to extend and improve upon past experimental and computational efforts on the evaluation of a scaled high-lift wing with a superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) SCF. Recent turbulence measurements of the Texas A&M University 3ft-by-4ft wind tunnel allow for more accurate representation of the flow through the test section in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The finite volume models used in CFD analysis are coupled to structural finite element models using a framework compatible with an SMA constitutive model and significant deformation, enabling fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis of the SCF. Both fully-deployed and retraction/deployment cases are considered. The displacement of the SCF on the experimental model is measured at various stages of retraction/deployment using a laser displacement sensor and digital image correlation system. Due to a lack of structural stiffness in the 3D-printed plastic slat during retraction and SCF stowage, a rigid steel slat is incorporated into the physical model and preliminary wind tunnel tests are conducted at multiple angles of attack.


2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Mendoza ◽  
T.F. Brooks ◽  
W.M. Humphreys

Aeroacoustic evaluations of high-lift devices have been carried out in the Quiet Flow Facility of the NASA Langley Research Center. The present paper describes detailed flow and acoustic measurements that have been made in order to better understand the noise generated from airflow over a wing leading edge slat configuration, and to possibly predict and reduce this noise source. The acoustic database is obtained by a moveable Small Aperture Directional Array of microphones designed to electronically steer to different portions of models under study. The slat is shown to be a uniform distributed noise source. The data was processed such that spectra and directivity were determined with respect to a one-foot span of slat. The spectra are normalized in various fashions to demonstrate slat noise character. In order to equate portions of the spectra to different slat noise components, trailing edge noise predictions using measured slat boundary layer parameters as inputs are compared to the measured slat noise spectra.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2752
Author(s):  
Conchin Contell Asins ◽  
Volker Landersheim ◽  
Dominik Laveuve ◽  
Seiji Adachi ◽  
Michael May ◽  
...  

In order to contribute to achieving noise and emission reduction goals, Fraunhofer and Airbus deal with the development of a morphing leading edge (MLE) as a high lift device for aircraft. Within the European research program “Clean Sky 2”, a morphing leading edge with gapless chord- and camber-increase for high-lift performance was developed. The MLE is able to morph into two different aerofoils—one for cruise and one for take-off/landing, the latter increasing lift and stall angle over the former. The shape flexibility is realised by a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) skin optimised for bending and a sliding contact at the bottom. The material is selected in terms of type, thickness, and lay-up including ply-wise fibre orientation based on numerical simulation and material tests. The MLE is driven by an internal electromechanical actuation system. Load introduction into the skin is realised by span-wise stringers, which require specific stiffness and thermal expansion properties for this task. To avoid the penetration of a bird into the front spar of the wing in case of bird strike, a bird strike protection structure is proposed and analysed. In this paper, the designed MLE including aerodynamic properties, composite skin structure, actuation system, and bird strike behaviour is described and analysed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1475472X2110032
Author(s):  
Yongfei Mu ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Wutao Lei ◽  
Daxiong Liao

The aerodynamic noise of landing gears have been widely studied as an important component of the airframe noise. During take-off and landing, there are doors, cavity and fuselage around the landing gear. The noise caused by these aircraft components will interfere with aerodynamic noise generated by the landing gear itself. Hence, paper proposes an Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES) method for the investigation of the flow field around a single fuselage nose landing gear (NLG) model and a fuselage nose landing gear model with doors, cavity and fuselage nose (NLG-DCN) respectively. The difference between the two flow fields were analyzed in detail to better understand the influence of these components around the aircraft’s landing gear, and it was found that there is a serious mixing phenomenon among the separated flow from the front doors, the unstable shear layer falling off the leading edge of the cavity and the wake of the main strut which directly leads to the enhancement of the noise levels. Furthermore, after the noise sound waves are reflected by the doors several times, an interference phenomenon is generated between the doors. This interference may be a reason why the tone excited in the cavity is suppressed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. 5650-5663
Author(s):  
Hasan Kamliya Jawahar ◽  
Syamir Alihan Showkat Ali ◽  
Mahdi Azarpeyvand

Experimental measurements were carried out to assess the aeroacoustic characteristics of a 30P30N high-lift device, with particular attention to slat tonal noise. Three different types of slat modifications, namely slat cove filler, serrated slat cusp, and slat finlets have been experimentally examined. The results are presented for an angle of attack of α = 18 at a free-stream velocity of U = 30 m/s, which corresponds to a chord-based Reynolds number of Re = 7 x 10. The unsteady surface pressure near the slat region and far-field noise were made simultaneously to gain a deeper understanding of the slat noise generation mechanisms. The nature of the low-frequency broadband hump and the slat tones were investigated using higher-order statistical approaches for the baseline 30P30N and modified slat configurations. Continuous wavelet transform of the unsteady surface pressure fluctuations along with secondary wavelet transform of the broadband hump and tones were carried out to analyze the intermittent events induced by the tone generating resonant mechanisms. Stochastic analysis of the wavelet coefficient modulus of the surface pressure fluctuations was also carried out to demonstrate the inherent differences of different tonal frequencies. An understanding into the nature of the noise generated from the slat will help design the new generation of quite high-lift devices.


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