Investigation of novel electroactive morphing concepts for aerodynamic performance increase of an A320 wing through High-Fidelity numerical simulation

The present thesis aims at investigating bio-inspired concepts of morphing wings for greener aviation through aerodynamic performance increase. The work was conducted under the European project BEALIVE “Bioinspired Electroactive multiscale Aeronautical LIVE skin”. This research was carried out in collaboration between Ontario Tech University and IMFT. High-Fidelity numerical simulations were conducted in the Navier Stokes Multi-Block solver around the Airbus A320 wing in the subsonic regime for Reynolds number one million. Novel electroactive morphing concepts were explored through slight deformation and vibration of the trailing edge region for the design of a “live-skin”. Bio-inspired by fish scales and bird feathers, this concept consists of an innovative moving interface between the lifting structure and the surrounding turbulence by means of large DoFs of the actuators composing the morphing system. The Organised Eddy Simulation turbulence modelling was used to capture the turbulent coherent structures interacting with the chaotic turbulence. A large parametric study was performed with regard to a constant and time-modulation (“wobulation”) of the vibration frequency, enabling the detection of optimal morphing parameters. The actuation amplitude variation was investigated in the form of a sinusoidal spanwise travelling wave (STW) for different frequencies and wavelengths. Advanced spectral and wavelet analysis unveiled the presence of natural frequencies of the Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices, developed along the shear layers, as well as of the von Kármán vortex structures. Emphasis has been given to the evaluation of the spanwise undulations and vortex dislocations of the predominant vortex rows associated with secondary instability. Optimal vibrations with a constant amplitude and frequency were found to reduce drag up to −4%, increase lift up to +3%, and increase lift-to-drag ratio up to +5%. STW was found to provide a similar performance with simultaneous reduction of aerodynamic forces fluctuations up to −50% and reduction of noise sources associated with predominant modes up to 14 dB.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Rouaix, Clément

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Hangan, Horia
• Braza, Marianna

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1964

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1964