Flutter Analysis of a Morphing Wing Considering Fluid–Thermal–Structure Coupling

Tianxing Chen, Kun Guo, Huichao Deng, Yuchen Xia, Hao Luo, Yunlong Li +1 · American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) · 2026

This study conducts a flutter analysis of morphing wings, revealing critical insights into stability under varying conditions.

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Plain English summary

The research investigates how morphing wings in hypersonic aircraft can change shape to improve performance. It looks at how fluid dynamics, temperature, and structural changes affect the wing's stability and flutter characteristics. The study finds that both temperature and geometric changes can negatively impact flutter speed and stability.

Why this matters

Understanding the stability of morphing wings is crucial for the design of advanced aircraft that can adapt to different flight conditions. This research addresses the challenges of ensuring safe and efficient flight in high-speed environments, which is important for the future of aerospace technology.

Key findings

  • Flutter onset is governed by the coupling of the first two structural modes.
  • A secondary instability pathway emerges for the fully extended wing.
  • Critical flutter speed is degraded by increasing temperature and geometric extension.
  • Flutter frequency has a non-monotonic relationship with the extension ratio.
  • The findings provide a framework for the design and control of morphing aircraft.

What's new

The study systematically evaluates the coupled effects of fluid dynamics, thermal loading, and structural deformation on morphing wings.

Limitations

The abstract does not specify experimental validation or real-world application scenarios.

Commercial context

The abstract does not provide information on commercial applications or readiness.

Publication

Publisher
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Publication date
August 1, 2026
Research type
Paper

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Method note: Summaries and ratings on this page are generated by AI from the abstract only. Read the original paper for full context. · Model: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18