Structural Design and Analysis of All-moving Type Smart Fin using Single-crystal Piezoelectric Actuator

Abstract

Researches regarding piezoelectric actuators has been conducted to substitute for the hydraulic actuators by the piezoelectric material because of light weight and accurate actuation. In this thesis, an actuating mechanism of the smart fin using single-crystal piezoelectric actuator is developed and structural analysis regarding the resulting pitch rotation angle is conducted. A straight unimorph actuator is embedded along the spanwise direction inside the hollow inner space of the airfoil. A hinge which is constrained about its axial rotation is located at 1/4 of chord, and thus the smart fin rotates in its rigid pitch direction. Structural behavior of the smart fin was predicted by using commercial software program ANSYS, regarding the resulting actuation of the trailing edge under specific voltage input in the air. In addition, the flutter analysis was conducted on the structure to confirm the stability condition under Mach number 0.5 flight.