Modeling of Dynamic Loading of Morphing-Wing Aircraft

The simulation of dynamic loads and required power is essential for the design of any morphing wing aircraft, since it ultimately determines the feasibility of a given morphing configuration. In this paper a methodology suitable for numerical calculation of the dynamic loads for a morphing-wing aircraft is presented. The approach taken is one of extending Rigid Body Dynamics to include time-varying terms. The dynamic loads are derived from Lagrange’s Equations of a morphing aircraft, modeled as a system of rigid bodies connected by actuated rotational and translational joints. The overall flight dynamics are also treated using the Extended Rigid Body Dynamics approach, introducing morphing forces and moments to model the correct dynamics for a morphing aircraft. Aerodynamic loads are computed using a Vortex-Lattice method. The overall model is applied to a gullwing aircraft performing a set of morphing-induced maneuvers. The resulting loads are analyzed, and the strict power requirements of the gull-wing aircraft are explained.