Event

MS Thesis Announcement - Ted Bubert

Friday, February 13, 2009
10:00 a.m.
0135 Martin Hall
http://www.aero.umd.edu/documents/thesis_announcements/bubertthesisannounce

MS Thesis Announcement - February 13, 2009 -

Ted Bubert -"Highly Extensible Skin for a Variable Wing-Span Morphing

Aircraft Utilizing Pneumatic Artificial Muscle Actuation"

Martin Hall 0135

Friday, February 13, 2009

10:00 AM

Abstract

Two different technologies are demonstrated for a span-morphing wingtip: a linear controller for a pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) actuator, and a passive 1-D morphing

skin. A generic PAM system incorporating a PAM working against a spring load is described in a Simulink model incorporating PID control. Frequency responses are obtained by simulation and experiment, and the ability to track useful control inputs is demonstrated. The morphing skin system includes an elastomer-fiber composite surface layer supported by a flexible honeycomb structure, each of which exhibit a near-zero in-plane Poisson’s ratio. Skin and substructure configurations are designed using analytical methods. A prototype morphing skin mated to a PAM actuation mechanism demonstrates 100% extension accompanied by a 100% increase in area.

Committee Chair: Dr. Norman Wereley

Committee Members: Dr. Chris Cadou and Dr. Sean Humbert

Audience: Graduate