Design and construction of pre-stressed piezoelectric unimorph for trailing edge flap actuation

Abstract

This paper presents a trailing edge flap actuation mechanism using a novel pre-stressed piezoelectric unimorph, PUMPS (Piezoelectric Unimorph with Mechanically Pre-stressed Substrate). Experimental evaluation of actuation performance such as force-displacement characteristics of PUMPS actuators showed that the performance of PUMPS satisfied the requirements for trailing edge flap actuation. Subsequently, flap actuation mechanisms were designed and constructed with several slot types in the flaps, and stacked PUMPS actuators were applied to the flap actuation mechanisms. Experimental study of the test wing models with four flaps was accomplished, and the flap angle was achieved up to ±5.5° within 15Hz under maximum applicable voltage.