Year

2015-2016

Team Size

Team

4

Project Type

Mechanical Design

Organisation

University of Pennsylvania

On the Fly

On the Fly is a mechanical and aerodynamic study of a morphing wing to improve gliding efficiency and extend flight length.

Objectives + Challenges

Problem Statement

Gliders have a fixed wing design, but have to operate in two very different aerodynamic conditions, climb and glide, meaning that they can't be optimal for both settings.

Target Audience

Glider pilots | Glider manufacturers

Goals

Constraints

  • Identify and model two or more airfoil shapes for both glide and climb settings

  • Conduct wind tunnel trials as well as CFD

  • Develop a scale prototype mechanical design of a wing section


  • Budget < $2000

  • timeline

  • Many other classes and projects competing


Process + Approach

Methodology 

We took a developmental approach, beginning with simple 2d analyses and review of the prior art in the field, before diving into experimentation and prototype design and build.

Key Activities

  • Initial concept refinement

  • Airfoil selection

  • CFD & Wind tunnel testing

  • Mechanical design and build

Tools & Technologies


Materials


  • Solidworks

  • SolidCAM

  • Ansys Fluent

  • Javafoil

  • Wind tunnel

  • laser cutter

  • Vacuum forming

  • etc.

  • Various polymers

  • Aluminium

  • Balsa

  • MDF

  • Carbon fibre


Solutions, Deliverables + Outcomes

Final Output

We delivered an analysis and selection of airfoils: the FX 60-126 for climbing and the NACA 63-012 for gliding. See the speed polar graph below. These increased the glide ratio and showed potential for extended and improved flight

We also delivered several physical artefacts through the prototyping period. The culmination was an attempted construction of a morphing wing assembly.

Key Features

  • Dual wing shape potential

  • Significant glide ratio improvement

Outcomes + Comments

Outcomes

This was an ambitious project that did not come together entirely as hoped. The mechanical design didn't go as well as desired and had significant challenges upon completion.

The analysis, while basic, is sound and shows the potential is there.

Lessons Learned

Collaboratively this was a tough project. At the undergraduate level, with multiple classes and extracurriculars like sports and clubs, getting priorities together was challenging.

Additionally, while technically interesting this is not likely to be a concept taken beyond that. The added weight and technical risk of an assembly like this would make airworthiness and reliability much more challenging. This is why blended wings which utilise multiple airfoils along their span are much more sensible.

Personal Commentary

I was disappointed in how the project turned out in the end. I thought we would be capable of pulling it off, but we probably bit off more than we could chew. It was a good exercise in teamwork in the complex dynamics of many different projects taking our attention.

Looking at it again, it would be interesting to explore the use of flaps and other smaller mechanical structures to adjust the glide ratio of the craft, instead of the entire wing.

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