BAANG: Building Actions In Smart Aviation with Environmental Gains

BAANG connects 4 disciplines - aeronautics, mechatronics, mechanics of materials and additive technologies and collaborates in 5 areas - smart materials, novel structures, new design, simulation techniques and optimal wing shape adaptation. It brings together four institutions: Brno University of Technology (BUT) – the widening coordinator and three top-class leading universities - TU Delft, Imperial College London (Profs. Aliabadi and Sharif Khodaei) and TU WIEN.

The project focuses on the optimal adaptation of the aerodynamic shape of the wing to actual flight conditions. The adaptation will be done by the morphing of the wing´s trailing edge or by a winglet shape morphing. We will use an approach based on a switching between predefined shapes enabled by innovative metamaterials. Morphing itself will not be used for the replacement of primary aircraft control (elevator, aileron, and rudder), although we will include the effects caused by wing shape change on aircraft control. This scientific and technological innovation brings new challenges. A gradual change of the wing shape affects aerodynamic properties, advanced metamaterial application needs well-managed 3D printing technologies, and an appropriate morphing control needs to be designed. The biggest challenge is to implement all the expertise into the design process of the morphing wing. Fulfilling this challenge will link the four scientific disciplines, increase excellence and open opportunities for future projects.