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