Daynes, S.

Lachenal, X.

Weaver, P. M.

A new type of morphing structure is presented which has large twisting deformations with tailorable stiffness properties. The concept consists of strips of carbon fibre reinforced plastic which are initially curved prior to being flattened and assembled into a grid-like structure in a heightened state of elastic strain energy. Tailoring the initial curvature of the strips, material properties and the geometry of the assembled structure enables the torsional stiffness to be tailored. It is shown, using a morphing wing concept, that a state of zero torsional stiffness can be obtained when there is a balance between the changes in strain energy associated with bending and twist deformations. The shear centre of the wing is aligned with its aerodynamic centre enabling large twist deformations and large changes in aerodynamic loading with minimal actuation requirements.</p

Twisting structures with tailored stability and their application to morphing wings

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