Scaled electromechanical modeling of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter

During the early 1990s, The U.S. Department of Defense embarked on a search for an affordable, next generation fighter aircraft that could fit the common needs of the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, as well as several allied nations. Lockheed Martin Corporation provided the answer with a cutting-edge fighter jet design that fulfilled all of the DoD's needs; the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The JSF was produced in three different variants, the first and simplest being the F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take-off, Landing), designed especially for the Air Force. In order to explore the underlying principles of the JSF's design as well as its aerodynamic characteristics, a scaled electromechanical model of the JSF F-35A variant was constructed using limited information about the aircraft's unclassified dimensions and features. The design process involved at first a CAD solid model of the entire structure. Once the computer-based model was completed, parts were manufactured with high precision out of 1/16" polycarbonate with the aid of a waterjet. The scaled model also had several electrical components such as an R/C transmitter and receiver, servos for controlling the aerodynamic surfaces; high speed ducted fan motor for providing the necessary thrust, and LEDs to mimic the aircraft's external lighting system. Despite some minor differences in detail, the F-35A 25:1 scaled model closely resembled most of the physical features contained in the Joint Strike Fighter conventional takeoff/landing variant. It should be made clear that the decision for making the airframe out of polycarbonate was greatly influenced by time limitations and budget constraints experienced throughout the term. Our original intention was to make the airframe completely out of balsa wood,

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Marmorato, Leonardo F. (Leonardo Francesco), 1982-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ernesto E. Blanco.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32769

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32769