MORPHING FOR SMART WING DESIGN THROUGH RANS/LES METHODS

This article presents numerical simulation results obtained in the context of the H2020 European research project SMS, “Smart Morphing and Sensing for Aeronautical configurations” by using among other, hybrid RANS-LES methods, able to accompany the design of the wings of the future. The morphing concepts studied are partly bio-inspired and are able to act in multiple time and length scales. They are proven efficient for the increase of the aerodynamic performances of A320 wings in reduced scale and near scale one, in synergy with the prototypes built within this project. The simulations have shown the ability of novel electroactive actuators performing slight deformation of the trailing edge region and optimal vibrations, to create suitable vortex breakdown of specific coherent structures and to enhance beneficial vortices, leading to thinning of the shear layers and the wake’s width. The simulations quantified the optimal actuation ranges and the gains in lift increase, drag reduction and simultaneous attenuation of the noise sources past the trailing edge