The Structural and Performance Analysis of Active Camber Morphing Wing and Optimization

Abstract

This thesis investigates the design and optimization of an active camber morphing wing by integrating shape parameterization, evolutionary algorithms, and topology optimization techniques. The research aims to develop an airfoil capable of dynamically adapting its shape to various flight conditions, thereby enhancing lift, reducing drag, and improving overall aerodynamic efficiency. A modified Bezier–PARSEC (BP) method is introduced to precisely parameterize camber and thickness profiles, allowing for independent shape optimization of the leading and trailing edges. This segmented parameterization, combined with a Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm, iteratively refines the airfoil’s geometry to maximize key performance metrics while ensuring that the airfoil’s curve length remains realistic.

Once the aerodynamic optimization identifies optimal shapes, the focus shifts to structural design. Topology optimization is employed on discretized finite element models of the leading and trailing edges to determine material distributions that maintain sufficient stiffness under aerodynamic loads while enabling controlled morphing. Comparative analyses of the resulting optimized shapes against baseline airfoils confirm the improvements in aerodynamic performance. Coupled structural and aerodynamic simulations further validate the feasibility of the proposed approach. By integrating aerodynamic and structural optimization, this work demonstrates that adaptive wing designs can significantly enhance aircraft performance, contributing to the advancement of morphing wing technologies in aircraft design.