Session: 01-02-03 Adaptive and Multifunctional Structures III

Paper Number: 108441

108441 - A Variable Camber Piezocomposite Rotor: Aerodynamic Parametric Analysis 

Multi-rotor vehicles use complex mechanisms and/or mechanical components and varying rotor speeds to attain stability, control, and maneuverability. This research proposes variable camber shape morphing blades for higher thrust generation. The goal is to use minimum mechanical components and produce higher thrust levels without varying the rotor speeds. This mechanism-free concept is referred to as the Solid-State Rotor in the literature. The concept employs morphing blades with strain-inducing actuators such as the Macro-Fiber Composite device. This concept uses onboard electronics powered by an electromagnetic generator attached to the rotor. The excitation of the strain-inducing actuators on the rotor blades changes the camber of the rotor blades, which leads to a change in thrust. In this paper, first, the basic concept of the Solid-State rotor is described. Next, parametric analyses are conducted using a theoretical model based on the XROTOR software to predict the aerodynamic performance of variable camber piezocomposite rotors for various geometric and flow properties.

Presenting Author: Bharg Shah Rutgers University

Presenting Author Biography: Bharg Shah is an Aerospace Engineer for Naval Air Weapons Center Weapons Division (NAVAIR). Bharg received his B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering and M.S. degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Rutgers University in 2020 and 2022, respectively. His research to date in the field of adaptive/active structures, composites, and small UAS incorporating innovative materials has led to 1 peer-reviewed journal article as a co-author and 2 conference papers.

Authors:

Bharg Shah Rutgers University
Onur Bilgen Rutgers University