Aerodynamic and Vibration Analysis of the Morphing Wings of a Hypersonic Vehicle

Abstract Hypersonic vehicles are receiving great attention in recent years due to their high speed and long-range capabilities. The shock waves come into consideration as a propagating disturbance for any aircraft when it exceeds the speed of sound. Complex environment and flight requirements of the hypersonic vehicles are leading the researchers to focus on several design considerations. Adaptive shape deformation is one of the prospective areas among them which has an impact on thermal loading, global and local load factors, vehicle acceleration, total energy dissipation, and fuel consumption. The wings play a key role in the aerodynamic performances of a flying machine; therefore, the overall performance of the hypersonic vehicle can be improved by applying morphing technologies on the wing. Morphing can help with reducing wave drag, increasing lift-to-drag ratio as well as enhancing flight endurance, and extending the range for a hypersonic vehicle. In this study, the telescopic wing morphing profile is considered for the aerodynamics and vibration analysis. The experimental validations of the aerodynamics and vibration characteristics are conducted by a wind-tunnel experiment and a vibration-testing arrangement, respectively, using a small-scale model of the wing. The computational analysis of the aerodynamics and vibration characteristics of the morphing wings are conducted and compared. Thus, a comprehensive study including the comparison between morphing modes can establish a standard to choose the appropriate morphing technique for the hypersonic vehicles.