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Design and application of PneuNets bending actuator

Shiwei Zhao (School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China)
Daochun Li (School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China)
Jinwu Xiang (School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China)

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 15 September 2020

Issue publication date: 28 October 2020

390

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose an improved design of PneuNets bending actuator which aims at obtaining larger deflection with the same magnitude of pressure. The PneuNets bending actuator shows potential application in the morphing trailing edge concept.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite element method is used to investigate the characteristics of the improved design bending actuator. Multiobjective optimal design of the PneuNets bending actuator is proposed based on the Gauss process regression models.

Findings

The maximum deflection is obtained when the height of the beams is smaller than half the height of the chambers. The spacing between chambers (beam length) has little effect on the deflection. Larger spacing could be used to reduce the actuator weight.

Originality/value

With the same pressure magnitude, the deflection of the improved design bending actuator is much larger than that of the baseline configuration. PneuNets bending actuator could increase the continuity of the aerodynamic surface compared to other actuators.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant Nos. 11972059 and 11572023.

Citation

Zhao, S., Li, D. and Xiang, J. (2020), "Design and application of PneuNets bending actuator", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 92 No. 10, pp. 1539-1546. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-07-2019-0140

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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