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Tailored twist morphing achieved using graded bend–twist metamaterials

Huaiyuan Gu Orcid Logo, Javad Taghipour, Alexander Shaw Orcid Logo, Mohammadreza Amoozgar Orcid Logo, Jiaying Zhang, Chen Wang, Michael Friswell

Composite Structures, Volume: 300, Start page: 116151

Swansea University Authors: Javad Taghipour, Alexander Shaw Orcid Logo, Michael Friswell

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.116151

Abstract

This work develops a morphing concept that utilises a metamaterial as the passive morphing device for helicopter blades. The metamaterials are created with bend–twist coupling, which enable the blade twist under prescribed bending loads. Finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to investigate the...

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Published in: Composite Structures
ISSN: 0263-8223
Published: Elsevier BV 2022
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60970
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Abstract: This work develops a morphing concept that utilises a metamaterial as the passive morphing device for helicopter blades. The metamaterials are created with bend–twist coupling, which enable the blade twist under prescribed bending loads. Finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to investigate the influence of the unit cell configurations on the coupling properties of the metamaterials. The numerical models are then validated experimentally through a set of bending tests conducted with additively manufactured prototypes. Finally, the validated model is used to design a graded metamaterial, where the cell aspect ratio gradually changes along the blade span, providing unique bend–twist coupling and allowing for tailored twist to be obtained. The results suggest the graded metamaterials are capable of introducing optimised nonlinear twists to the blade during different flight conditions including both hover and forward flight.
Keywords: Metamaterial; Morphing; Bend–twist coupling; Composite rotor blade; FE analysis
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Funders: The authors acknowledge funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 project ‘Shape Adaptive Blades for Rotorcraft Efficiency (SABRE)’ , under grant agreement 723491.
Start Page: 116151

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