Design and Optimization of Innovative Tiltrotor Wing Control Surfaces through Coupled Multibody - Mid-fidelity Aerodynamics Simulations

The present work proposes a novel approach, based on a series of co-simulations combined with an optimization procedure, used to perform the preliminary sizing of the control surfaces of the NextGen Civil TilRotor (NGCTR) and the relative actuation systems. The activity is collocated in the framework of the FORMOSA Clean Sky 2 project which has the aim of designing an innovative solution for the wing movable surfaces able to incorporate multiple functions (download alleviation, flap, aileron) thus reducing the complexity of the actuation system. The optimization procedure, based on a Design of Experiment approach, is then exploited to define the best aileron configuration to improve the roll performance, trying to reduce the time to bank.