Piezoelectric Low Net Passive Stiffness (LNPS) flutter test vane

Ryan Barnhart; Ronald M. Barrett

doi:10.1117/12.914986

27 March 2012 Piezoelectric Low Net Passive Stiffness (LNPS) flutter test vane

Ryan Barnhart, Ronald M. Barrett

Proceedings Volume 8341, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2012; 834115 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.914986
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

This paper outlines the design, fabrication and testing of a new, high performance piezoelectrically driven aircraft flutter test vane. This flutter test vane utilizes low-net passive stiffness (LNPS) actuator configurations to produce deflection amplification ratios on the order of 5:1 while maintaining full blocked moment generation capability. With an order of magnitude lower weight than conventional vanes, the LNPS flight flutter test vane is capable of producing larger amplitude structural deflections with smaller force levels because vane forcing waveforms, frequencies and phasing can be very exactingly controlled with respect to each other. The paper covers the fundamental driving theories behind the device, actuator geometry, test article layout, fabrication and testing. This device was wind tunnel tested at airspeeds up to 110 ft/s with excellent correlation between theory and experiment. Experimental tests show an improvement in angular deflection and delta lift forces from approximately ±1.8 deg. and 0.45 lb_f to ±8.5 deg. and 1.45 lb_f, respectively. The flutter test vane consumes only 1W of peak power at max. actuation frequency, drastically reducing the impact of electrical power supply lines on the modal mass of the wing. This paper describes the modeling, testing and evaluation of the adaptive flutter test vane and quantifies the implications on the current state of flight flutter testing.

Citation Download Citation

Ryan Barnhart and Ronald M. Barrett "Piezoelectric Low Net Passive Stiffness (LNPS) flutter test vane", Proc. SPIE 8341, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2012, 834115 (27 March 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.914986

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