Passively actuated spoiler for gust load alleviation
Paul Lancelot (TU Delft - Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics)
R. de Breuker (TU Delft - Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics)
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Abstract
This paper summarises a conceptual study regarding a passively actuated spoiler for gust load alleviation. The design of such system is intended to limit the use of computers, sensors and actuators to operate the device. The study mainly relies on using Theodorsen’s unsteady flow theory for a typical airfoil section. To cope with the limitations of this type of model for spoiler aerodynamic, corrections are brought from unsteady high fidelity flow simulations by means of transfer functions. The outcome is a 2D aeroelastic model with three degrees of freedom. It describes the spoiler contribution to the overall aeroelastic behaviour of the airfoil in the event of a gust encounter. Results show that the spoiler can help to reduce loads passively, but requires to be retracted with an active system to work properly.