"Smart" Actuators for Alleviating Buffet of Aircraft

An active-control surface modal (ACSM) device has been developed as an improved means of alleviating buffet of an aircraft. The ACSM device is a "smart" actuator system that includes an array of antagonistic piezoelectric actuators installed within a rudder or other aircraft control surface (see Figure 1). These actuators are used to deform the control surface in what amounts to controlled vibration modes (see Figure 2), the frequencies and mode shapes being chosen to affect unsteady aerodynamic damping to suppress the dynamic effects of buffet.