Damping levels induced by morphing skin on an adaptive trailing edge device (ATED)

The development of aircraft structural morphing devices involves the integration of complex and different systems, interacting and modifying their uncoupled characteristics. In detail, when adaptive skins, designed to afford the exceptional deformations needed to achieve morphing capabilities, are integrated into the actuation structural system, mass, stiffness and damping aspects are highly affected. This fact can have relevant impacts for the design process either from the static (load-bearing capabilities) and the dynamic (aeroelastic response, mainly), point of view.