Publications

Changing the shape of aircraft is beneficial because they operate in a wide range of flight conditions with conflicting requirements and the concomitant variations in aircraft performance. This chapter focuses on morphing systems that contribute to reducing fuel burn for commercial transport aircraft. We start with a summary of how morphing can reduce fuel burn from the system-level viewpoint, following which we analyze the three wing-morphing modes: planform, out of plane, and airfoil. For each of these, we review morphing mechanisms that are already in place, such as high-lift systems, and provide an outlook on how more advanced morphing technologies can further reduce fuel burn. The impact of any morphing system must be quantified by considering all the disciplines involved, and a clean-sheet design should be done to realize the full potential. The most promising type of morphing for the near future is variable trailing-edge camber, which can tailor the aerodynamic performance and more effectively alleviate maneuver load. Research on new materials and morphing mechanisms will make morphing systems lighter, more energy efficient, and more economical. It is just a question of time before we see aircraft wings that exhibit morphing capabilities that seem impossible today.