Deformation Measurements of a Full Span Model with Adaptive Elasto-Flexible Membrane Wings

Unmanned or micro aerial vehicles are designed to perform well in a variety of flight conditions. Therefore, the morphing wing technology aims to constantly adapt the aerodynamics to different flight stages. This work presents experimental investigations of an elasto-flexible membrane wing at a Reynolds number of 264000. The investigated concept enables wing folding over a wide range and it allows the wing to adapt to changing aerodynamic loads. The present study focuses on the deformation of the elasto-flexible membrane and its advantages for the aerodynamic performance of the examined model. The measurements show an increasing camber and thickness of the airfoil for higher angles of attack, which results in a more smooth and delayed stall, in particular for the highly swept configuration.