Morphing Aircraft Dynamical Model: Longitudinal Shape Changes

This paper develops an aerodynamic model and a dynamic model of a morphing flying wing aircraft. The dynamic model includes realistic aerodynamic forces, consisting of lift, drag, and pitching moment about the leading edge, calculated using a constant strength source doublet panel method. The panel method allows for the calculation of aerodynamic forces due to large scale shape changing eects. The dynamic model calculates state information for the morphing wing based on the aerodynamic forces from the panel method. The model allows for multiple shape changing degrees-of-freedom for the wing, including thickness, sweep, dihedral angle, and chord length. Results show the model provides a versatile and computationally ecient tool for calculating the aerodynamic forces on the morphing aircraft and using these forces to show the associated states.

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