Self-shaping wings to redefine aviation in the future

The idea of building lighter, more efficient and more aerodynamic aircraft is crucial for saving on energy costs and lowering the aviation industry’s carbon footprint. The EU-funded FUTUREWINGS (Wings of the future) project envisioned an aeroplane that can change its shape during flight – e.g. through self-shaping wings – in order to increase flight efficiency. It worked on testing the viability of such a radical concept, focusing on development of a thin-walled beam whose shape can be controlled through piezo-electric actuators.

To achieve this, the project team researched how piezo-electric technology can manipulate the shape of beams or other structural elements involved in aerospace engineering. It built a novel electronic control system required to activate sets of macro fibre composite components and defined the numerical procedures to simulate hybrid structures.

A key project achievement involved the design and testing of torsion specimens and bending specimens made up of hybrid composite active material. The project team also verified the numerical analysis and the design of the Future-Wing concept.

FUTUREWINGS then compared the aero-elasticity of the conceived aircraft model with that of conventional aircraft and conducted flight simulations to validate the aeromechanical behaviour of the futuristic aircraft concept.

In effect, the project furthered the use of smart material that transforms aircraft wings and tail into ‘living tissue’, facilitating aircraft control by changing the shape of its surfaces and aerodynamics. The research results have been disseminated through workshops and publications, while the project partners have made plans to continue collaboration beyond the project’s end. Although still at an early level of development, so-called ‘self-shaping structures’ could play an important part in the aviation and engineering of the future.