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To reduce the cost of small wind turbines, a prototype of a butterfly wind turbine (6.92 m in diameter), a small vertical-axis type, was developed with many parts made of extruded aluminum suitable for mass production. An overspeed control system with movable arms that operated using centrifugal and aerodynamic forces was installed for further cost reduction. Introducing this mechanism eliminates the need for large active brakes and expands the operating wind speed range of the wind turbine. However, although the mechanism involving the use of only bearings is simple, the violent movement of the movable arms can be a challenge. To address this in the present study, dampers were introduced on the movable arm rotation axes to improve the movement of the movable arms. To predict the behavior of a movable arm and the performance of the wind turbine with the mechanism, a simulation method was developed based on the blade element momentum theory and the equation of motion of the movable arm system. A comparison of experiments and predictions with and without dampers demonstrated qualitative agreement. In the case with dampers, measurements confirmed the predicted increase in the rotor rotational speed when the shorter ailerons installed perpendicularly to the movable arms were used to achieve the inclination. Field experiments of the generated power at a wind speed of 6 m/s (10 min average) showed relative performance improvements of 11.4% by installing dampers, 91.3% by shortening the aileron length, and 57.6% by changing the control target data. The movable arm system with dampers is expected to be a useful device for vertical-axis wind turbines that are difficult to control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whirl flutter of a tiltrotor aircraft is a complex aeroelastic phenomenon and it can result in catastrophic consequences. The deflection of an aileron mounted on a wing has the potential to solve this fatal problem. Whirl flutter suppression using an actively controlled aileron is studied in this study. Firstly, a semi-span aeroelastic model is established for the whirl flutter problem using the Hamilton principle. This model is composed of three parts: a rigid rotor, a rigid nacelle and a flexible wing, and the effect of the aileron deflection on the aeroelastic responses is also taken into consideration through a quasi-steady aerodynamic model. In addition, the accuracy of this aeroelastic model is validated with the results of two different wind-tunnel tests. Then, an LQR controller is developed to control the dynamic deflection of the aileron, and a full-dimensional state observer is built to estimate the state of the time-invariant system of a tiltrotor aircraft. Finally, simulations are carried out using the aeroelastic model and the LQR controller at different flight conditions to study the influence of the aileron deflection on whirl flutter. The simulation results demonstrate that the flutter boundary speed can be improved by 18.1% with the active deflection of the aileron, compared with the uncontrolled condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aircraft wings, aileron mass parameter presents a tremendous effect on the velocity and frequency of the flutter problem. For that purpose, we present the optimization of a composite design wing with an aileron, using machine-learning approach. Mass properties and its distribution have a great influence on the multi-variate optimization procedure, based on speed and frequency of flutter. First, flutter speed was obtained to estimate aileron impact. Additionally mass-equilibrated and other features were investigated. It can deduced that changing the position and mass properties of the aileron are tangible following the speed and frequency of the wing flutter. Based on the proposed optimization method, the best position of the aileron is determined for the composite wing to postpone flutter instability and decrease the existed stress. The represented coupled aero-structural model is emerged from subsonic aerodynamics model, which has been developed using the panel method in multidimensional space. The structural modeling has been conducted by finite element method, using the p-k method. The fluid –structure equations are solved and the results are extracted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most modern aircraft employ discrete ailerons for roll control. The induced drag, rolling moment, and yawing moment for an aircraft depend in part on the location and size of the ailerons. In the present study, lifting-line theory is used to formulate theoretical relationships between aileron design and the resulting forces and moments. The theory predicts that the optimum aileron geometry is independent of prescribed lift and rolling moment. A numerical potential flow algorithm is used to evaluate the optimum size and location of ailerons for a wide range of planforms with varying aspect ratio and taper ratio. Results show that the optimum aileron design to minimise induced drag always extends to the wing tip. Impacts to induced drag and yawing moment are also considered, and results can be used to inform initial design and placement of ailerons on future aircraft. Results of this optimisation study are also compared to theoretical optimum results that could be obtained from morphing-wing technology. Results of this comparison can be used to evaluate the potential benefits of using morphing-wing technology rather than traditional discrete ailerons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper is concerned with mechanical phenomena accompanying ground run of aircraft with near-critical slip angles. Such phenomena (reduced effectiveness of directional control, self-excited frictional vibrations of a landing gear, internal resonance of an aileron, transverse oscillations of the legs of a multileg landing gear) are due to the nonlinear dependence of the side force on the slip angles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial aircraft have well-designed and optimized systems, the result of a huge experience in the field, due to the large fleet of aircraft in operation. For light, utility, or sports aircraft, with a multitude of shapes, tasks, and construction types, there are different solutions that seek to best meet the requirements of the designed aircraft. In this sense, for a sport plane, an increased maneuverability is desired, and the system that controls flaps and wing must be properly designed. A new flap mechanism command solution is proposed and justified in the paper, for use in sports and recreational aviation, in order to achieve angles of braking greater than 40°, take-off and landing in a shorter time and over a shorter distance, as well as the gliding of the aircraft in critical flight conditions or when fuel economy is needed. A finite element model is used to verify the optimized command system for the flap and wing and to check if the strength structure of the aircraft is properly designed. The main result consists of the new design command system for flaps and wings and in verifying, by calculation, the acceptability of the new mechanism proposed from the point of view of the strength of the materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]