ExEEd- PBL

ADAPTIVE WINGLETS

Presented by:
22951A2102 [Link]
23955A2101 [Link]
23955A2102 [Link]
 ABSTRACT

 This project investigates the design and simulation of adaptive winglets using
ANSYS software to enhance aircraft performance, fuel efficiency, and flight
stability. Traditional winglets are fixed structures aimed at reducing drag and
improving fuel economy, but they lack the ability to adapt to changing
aerodynamic conditions throughout flight. Adaptive winglets address this limitation
by dynamically adjusting their shape and orientation to respond to varying speeds,
altitudes, and wind conditions, optimizing aerodynamic performance in real time.

 In this work, we use ANSYS to simulate the behavior of adaptive winglets under
different flight conditions. Our simulations focus on evaluating drag reduction, fuel
efficiency improvements, and load distribution across the wing. Comparative
analyses between conventional and adaptive winglet designs reveal the potential
for significant gains in fuel efficiency, reduced wing loading, and enhanced aircraft
stability, especially during take-off and landing. This study underscores the role of
adaptive winglets in achieving sustainable aviation, highlighting ANSYS simulation
as a powerful tool for innovation in adaptive aerodynamics and smart
aircraft technologies
 Introduction to winglets

WINGLETS HISTROY:

 The initial idea of winglets could be dated back to 1897 when an English engineer named
Frederick W. Lanchester saw that to control the wingtip vortices, a wing-end plate could be
attached to the end of both wings. Like many inventions, he found inspiration from nature,
he saw that flying eagles would have their feathers upturned at their wingtips and
incorporated this design to his model gliders.

 A more functional wing end was developed in 1910 when Scottish engineer William
[Link] patented his idea and manufactured it on his early biplane and monoplane
designs, it was the first practical application for the curled wing ends.
 INTRODUCTION
 Winglets, small aerodynamic surfaces added to aircraft wingtips, have long been utilized
in aviation to enhance efficiency by reducing drag and improving fuel economy. The
concept of winglets dates back to the late 19th century, when English engineer Frederick
W. Lanchester first theorized about the benefits of angled wing tips to counteract wingtip
vortices. However, it was not until the 1970s that Dr. Richard T. Whitcomb of NASA
developed the modern winglet design, demonstrating that winglets could reduce drag by
transforming a portion of the vortex energy into forward thrust. This breakthrough in
winglet technology led to widespread adoption by commercial and military aircraft,
contributing significantly to fuel savings and reducing the aviation industry’s
environmental impact.

 While conventional winglets have proven effective, their static nature limits their ability
to adapt to the varying aerodynamic conditions an aircraft experiences across different
phases of flight. This limitation has given rise to the concept of adaptive winglets, which
can dynamically change their configuration in response to real-time flight conditions,
such as airspeed, altitude, and wind patterns. Adaptive winglets offer the potential to
further reduce drag, improve fuel efficiency, and enhance stability, especially during
critical flight phases like take-off and landing.

 In this project, we explore the design and simulation of adaptive winglets using ANSYS
software to understand their potential advantages over conventional, static winglets.
Through computational simulations, we examine how adaptive winglets respond to
varying aerodynamic conditions and their impact on fuel consumption, structural loads,
and aircraft maneuverability. This research aims to advance sustainable aviation
 LITERATURE SURVEY

TITLE AUTHOR JOURNAL RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

DETAILS

Marine Segui, [Link]/10.3390/ This journal focuses on how an

New Aerodynamic Federico R. Abel, biomimetics6040054 adaptive winglet for the
Studies of an Adaptive Ruxandra M. Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft can
Winglet Application on Botez, improve performance of the
the Regional Jet CRJ700 Alessandro Ceruti aircraft. The winglet deflection
angles -93° to +93° improve the
performance. The lift-to-drag ratio
improved by up to 6.10% and drag
reduction of 1.30%.
Improving aircraft fuel [Link], Replacing slats, ailerons, and flaps
efficiency by using the [Link], DOI: 10.15587/1729- with adaptive wings improves
adaptive wing and [Link], 4061.2020.200664 aerodynamic efficiency by 0.36%
winglets [Link], and 0.35%,1.3% respectively. This
[Link] method improves aerodynamic
performance by 15.6%.and saving
17.1% of fuel.
GEOMETRY AND DESIGN
 Physics
Space – 3D
Time - Steady
Viscous - SST k-omega turbulence model

- Fluid
- air
Density 1.225 kg/m^3
Cp (Specific Heat) 1006.43 J/(kg K)
Thermal Conductivity 0.0242 W/(m K)
Viscosity 1.7894e-05 kg/(m s)
Molecular Weight 28.966 kg/kmol
- Solid
- aluminum
Density 2719 kg/m^3
Cp (Specific Heat) 871 J/(kg K)
Thermal Conductivity 202.4 W/(m K)
 Methodology

Modeling
Literature Conclusion
the Meshing Data
Review and and
Adaptive the Collection
Conceptual Documentati
Winglet Model and
Design on
in ANSYS Analysis
FLOW ANALYSIS
RESULT
CONDITIONS WITH STATIC WITH ADAPTIVE RESULT PERCENTAGE
WINGLET WINGLET

TAKEOFF 7469.847 7598.426 1.72%

CLIMB 40459.28 41799.53 3.31%

CRUISE 52178.98 53932.57 3.36%

DESCENT 20609.82 21253.13 3.12%

LANDING 3312.454 3414.754 3.08%

 Conclusion

In this analysis we have observed that aircraft with adaptive winglets have shown a significant
increase in lift and reduction in drag. These lifts are increased to 8% compared to a regular
static winglet attached to the [Link] analysis of adaptive winglets demonstrates their
significant potential to enhance aerodynamic efficiency by dynamically optimizing lift-to-drag
ratios across varying flight conditions. This adaptability reduces fuel consumption, extends
flight range, and minimizes environmental impacts.
REFERNCES
 Whitcomb, R. T. (1976). A Design Approach and Selected Wind-Tunnel
Results at High Subsonic Speeds for Wing-Tip Mounted Winglets. NASA
Technical Note, NASA TN D-8260.
 Hunsaker, D. F., et al. (2018). The Design and Analysis of Morphing
Wingtip Devices for Drag Reduction. Aerospace Science and
Technology, 79, 590–599.
 Lee, H., Park, S., & Yoon, K. (2020). Adaptive Winglets with Shape
Memory Alloy Actuation for Drag Reduction and Flight Stability. Smart
Materials and Structures, 29(4), 045017.
 Singh, R., & Kumar, P. (2021). Numerical Simulation of Adaptive Winglets
for Aircraft Drag Reduction Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Journal
of Aerospace Engineering, 34(2), 04021010
 Rao, A. V., & Pavneesh, T. (2019). Aerodynamic Analysis of Winglets
Using ANSYS Fluent for Drag Reduction. International Journal of
Engineering Research and Applications, 9(5), 29–36
 Smith, A. J., & White, E. M. (2022). Morphing Wing Technologies in
Aerospace Engineering: Adaptive Winglets and Aerodynamic Control.
Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 133, 100792.
THANK
YOU