Design of a Smart Leading Edge Device

To make use of low-drag future generation wings with high aspect ratio and low sweep for natural laminar flow, new high lift devices have to be developed [ACARE (Addendum to the Strategic Research Agenda, 2008), Horstmann (TELFONA, Contribution to Laminar Wing Development for Future Transport Aircraft, 2006)]. At the wing leading edge a smart e.g. morphing high lift device is being developed which provides a high-quality surface without gaps and steps. Due to the low maturity of morphing skins (Thill et al. (The Aeronautical Journal, 112:117–138)) the challenge of high strains has to be solved by an adequate design and sizing process. The presented design process comprises the requirements of a smart leading edge device, the structural pre-design and sizing of a full-scale leading edge section for wind tunnel tests.