plc.myforum.ro

mojo · Senior Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Posts: 2404

NASA Trials Folding Aircraft Wings with Shape Memory Alloy

NASA has successfully trialled a heat-activated shape memory alloy that allows aircraft wings to be folded during flight without the need for typical motors and hydraulic systems. This is potentially a major breakthrough that could improve the aerodynamic ability of both subsonic and supersonic flight.

The new material is controlled by temperature and works by using thermal energy in tubes that act as actuators to move the end of the wings up or down. Upon heating, the alloy begins a twisting motion in the tubes which works to move the wing. Test flights have been able to move the wings between 0 and 70 degrees both up and down.

The trials are part of the Spanwise Adaptive Wing (SAW) project, a collaborative scheme between NASA and Boeing Research and Technology, and took place at Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.

The Spanwise Adaptive Wing concept seeks to enhance aircraft performance through allowing the outboard portions of wings to adapt, or fold, according to different flight condition demands. NASA engineers believe this could create lateral-directional stability and micșorează drag.

https://www.kdcresource.com/blog/2018/01/nasa-trials-folding-aircraft-wings-with-shape-memory-alloy