Shape Memory Alloy Actuated Vortex Generators: Development and Flight Test

Friday, May 20, 2022: 10:45 AM
Sunset Ballroom (Westin Carlsbad Resort)
Dr. Frederick Calkins , The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA
Dr. Douglas E Nicholson , The Boeing Company, Berkeley, MO
Andrew Fassmann , Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Everett, WA
Paul Vijgen , Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Everett, WA
Christopher Yeeles , The Boeing Company, Berkeley, MO
Dr. Othmane Benafan , NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Mr. Glen S Bigelow , NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Mr. Darrell J Gaydosh , Ohio Aerospace Institute, Cleveland, OH

 

Vortex generators (VG) in aeronautical applications are typically needed at discrete flight conditions.  Fixed VG’s that need to be functional during take-off and landing conditions, would be a source of detrimental excrescence drag during the other flight phases (climb, cruise and descent). With the goal of improving aircraft efficiency, Boeing, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and Aerotec developed and successfully flight tested a first-generation prototype.  This environmentally activated VG system autonomously stows during cruise and deploys during take-off and landing. This application is distinctively enabled by the ability of selected shape memory alloy (SMA) elements to produce large work/torque output in a compact volume and operate both as a sensor and an actuator. The team developed the Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) based Reconfigurable Technology Vortex Generators (SMART-VG) for a 777-200 wing to flight test with the 2019 Boeing ecoDemonstrator program.  Three prototype SMART-VGs were designed and built to operate autonomously based on the environmental temperature the VGs encounters.  This was accomplished by developing a shape memory alloy material tailored to the atmospheric temperatures experienced in operation of commercial airplanes.  The SMA material was formed into a rod that twisted the VG between its retracted position when martensite at cold cruise conditions and its deployed position when austenite at warmer temperatures, low speed/low altitude conditions.  This project built upon recent advancements in SMA rotary actuation technology, including improved alloy systems, design tools, best practices, published standards and high-level wind tunnel and flight test demonstrations.

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