Development of an Integrated Aeroelastic Multibody Morphing Simulation Tool (Postprint)

Abstract : This paper describes the development of a tool for simulating the flight of a morphing aircraft during the morphing process. Also discussed are current-generation tools for modeling vehicle flight and illustrations of how these tools are as yet too immature for modeling of the flight of an aircraft during morphing of the wings. A framework is developed for modeling vehicle flight that incorporates vehicle morphing. The procedures outlined in the paper are sufficiently general to accommodate aircraft utilizing changes in sweep, span, or area. The current state of the art and the planned developments are illustrated through their application to the flight of a folding-wing vehicle.