Finite Element Modeling of Shape Memory Actuator for Application in a Morphing Wing Airfoil Segment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Smart materials are revolutionizing the way we are transported, having applications in morphing wings. These materials have been demonstrated to have a wide variety of applications in different fields and therefore, the validation through simulations is of vital importance for their implementation and further development. This investigation develops a shape memory actuator with application on the wing tip of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The actuator is manufactured of a shape memory composite (SMC) compound by a system of actuation of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires embedded in a hybrid composite formed by a fiber glass and hyperplastic matrix. Using mathematical and numerical models, the displacements of the different configurations for actuators were predicted. The modeling and simulation of a shape memory actuator for a wing tip of an UAV was developed using a finite element software ANSYS. The selection of smart materials and configuration of the actuator generated displacements of 0–15 mm for the simulation. The implementation of the shape memory actuator as a wing tip on the aircraft reduced the aerodynamic coefficients by 0.3–12%.