Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

970003

Proposal Number:

06.02-2748

Project Title:

Vibrostatic Buffeting Alleviation

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

NASA Langley Aeroelasticity Branch is addressing

aircraft lifecycle costs by actively reducing the

vertical tail buffeting due to vortices originating at

wing/fuselage leading edge extensions ("LEX")

during short duration high-alpha maneuvers. In a

departure from previous methods, the system uses

an piezoelectic induced strain actuation ("ISA")

mechanism. As applied to the 1/6 scale F/A-18

Transonic Dynamic Tunnel ("TDT") model, the

port vertical tail is equipped with piezoceramic

elements that enables alleviation of buffet loads

through active means. However, the current system

appears to a number of deficiencies. Although

piezowafers are lightweight and easily

attachable/embeddable the present system requires

bulky electronics and undue control power and

complexity to achieve necessary bandwidth and

stroke requirements. The system provides no level

of passive damping on the vertical tail either in high

strain flight condition or in normal flight. Moreover,

there is insufficient actuator authority to affect

modes other than the fundamental root bending

moment. EMF proposes a new concept of

vibrostatic damping and d33 bimorphs that

increases the control authority, minimizes the drive

electronics requirements and substantially reduces

power consumption while simultaneously

introducing a measure of passive damping at both

low and high alpha regimes.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

EMF's vibrostatic damping concept creates a new

product for a multifaceted commercial marketplace.

The proposed system has application to almost any

intermittent damping vibratory systems positioning

or attenuation incorporating piezoelectric or

electrostrictive devices. Opportunities include:

Ground and Space-borne Optics, Ultrasonic

Cleaners and Sports & Leisure Equipment.

Exploitation of the size and power reduction in

active mode combined with added passive damping

achieved under this project would make the

technology viable for a wide variety of such

applications. As noted in the support letter, EMF is

developing strategic partnerships for commercial

applications of this technology with Boeing Long

Beach. In particular, significant interest exists for

its application to wing flutter for the HSCT. EMF is

further developing strategic partnerships with

Blatek Corporation and Quiet Power Industries for

direct commercial applications of the outcome of

this research.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Gareth J Knowles

EMF Industries, Inc.

1700 Riverside Drive, Phillips Business Park

So. Williamsport , PA 17701

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

Robert Coppola

EMF Industries, Inc.

1700 Riverside Drive, Phillips Business Park

So. Williamsport , PA 17701