A gradient-based approach for optimal actuator design with morphing wings

In this paper, a design optimization approach is developed to design the placement and stroke of actuators at a conceptual design phase. This method is applied to the actuator design problem of the morphing leading edge of a high-performance sailplane to achieve predetermined optimal shapes. The centerpiece of this work is the derived analytical sensitivity analysis via direct differentiation to efficiently and effectively find the optimal design. This methodology is illustrated by breaking the solving routine into five blocks: meshing module, actuation stroke module, actuated deformation module, geometric deviation module and geometric constraint module. Although applied here to a morphing wing profile, the methodology and derived equations are general and can be applied to a number of applications of form-variable structures in which the optimal placement of actuators is desired.