Effect of NiTi-wired smart composite on morphing wings of unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

Smart materials applied in morphing wings can achieve several benefits, such as the reduction of aerodynamic coefficients, and therefore a lower energy consumption. This work proposes a novel implementation of a smart soft composite (SSC), actuated by embedded NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, as a compliant morphing wingtip for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Unlike traditional actuators or rigid morphing structures, the proposed design allows enhanced aerodynamic performance through lightweight, flexible deformation mechanisms. The integration of numerical, experimental, and CFD validation offers a comprehensive evaluation of its feasibility for UAV applications. An analysis of the geometric characteristics and behavior of the composite was carried out using mathematical and numerical models in order to predict the displacements of the compliant mechanism. The combination of smart materials and configuration achieved displacements up to 23 mm for the experimental analysis. Through a computational fluid dynamics analysis, the aerodynamic coefficients for different wing tips were determined. The application of the compliant mechanism on the UAV decreased the aerodynamic coefficients by 12%. The results show improvements in the flexibility and adaptability of the wing tip which has the potential to optimize the performance of UAVs.