Development of an adaptive morphing wing based on fiber-reinforced plastics and shape memory alloys

The process of integrating smart materials into fiber-reinforced plastics has been used increasingly to create different high-performance products for lightweight applications. This paper presents the development of an adaptive morphing wing based on fiber-reinforced plastics with shape memory alloys integrated into the reinforcing fabrics. Two types of preforms with varying numbers of integrated weft yarns in shape memory alloys were manufactured for a wing structure on a weaving machine using the pleated woven fabric technology. Subsequently, the realized preforms were infiltrated by a thermoset matrix and characterized mechanically to derive a preferred variant. After developing the adaptive morphing wing, its deformation behavior was characterized by varying current flow and time through shape memory alloys. Results revealed that maximum deformation of the investigated adaptive morphing wing was achieved at a current flow and time of 1 A and 60 s, respectively.