Could aircraft wings mimic birds? IIT Madras develops adaptive morphing skin

IIT Madras researchers have developed a bird-inspired morphing skin that dynamically adapts to airflow, helping prevent aircraft stalls, improve lift and reduce drag, building on over two decades of aerodynamics research.

In Short

• IIT Madras develops adaptive 'morphing skin' for aircraft wings inspired by bird flight
• Skin dynamically reshapes to prevent aerodynamic stall, enhancing lift and reducing drag
• Technology tested with Macro Fibre Composite strips and wind tunnel experiments

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed a novel “morphing skin” concept inspired by bird flight that could help aircraft prevent aerodynamic stalls while improving lift, reducing drag, and enhancing fuel efficiency.

The research was led by Dr Rinku Mukherjee from IIT Madras, who worked on the numerical code with Antony Samuel B, an IIT Madras alumnus. Wind tunnel experiments and implementation were carried out with Dr Aritras Roy, also an IIT Madras alumnus.

The study focuses on developing an adaptive external wing attachment that can change its shape in response to airflow conditions, as reported by PTI.

UNDERSTANDING THE RESEARCH

An aerodynamic stall occurs when airflow separates from a wing, resulting in a sudden loss of lift and increased drag. The IIT Madras team developed a flexible additional wing assembly that dynamically reshapes itself as airflow begins to detach.

The adaptive external skin aligns with the airflow, helping keep it attached to the wing and allowing the aircraft to maintain lift even at higher tilt angles.

The system uses Macro Fibre Composite (MFC) strips that can sense and actuate shape changes in real time.

“When a flight takes off, it always tilts itself to generate additional force to lift the airplane from the ground into the air. Sometimes the tilt can also happen due to some adverse flying conditions,” Mukherjee told PTI.

She explained that in such situations, the external skin, or wing assembly attachment, tilts itself to a safe degree, continuing to generate additional lift that helps keep the airplane in the air and/or prevent accidents.

RESEARCH DEVELOPED OVER MORE THAN 20 YEARS

According to Mukherjee, the research has been under development for more than 20 years. The team progressed from studying separated airflow to developing and experimentally validating a physical device capable of controlling flight properties in real time.

The researchers said the concept was tested on a 3D wing using a standard NACA 4415 airfoil configuration. Early results showed that the morphing skin could prevent flow separation while enhancing lift and minimising drag.

The findings were published in the European Journal of Mechanics. The paper was co-authored by Dr Aritras Roy and Dr Rinku Mukherjee.

OTHER IIT MADRAS' WORK AERODYNAMICS

The latest research builds on other aerodynamics projects at IIT Madras.

Under the Morphing Wing Aircraft Technologies (MWAT) project, funded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), researchers worked on developing a rectangular wing capable of changing its camber during flight. The 2017-2022 project involved experimental studies, numerical analysis, and wind tunnel experiments, with changes in camber demonstrated using an MFC-actuated external skin.

Another DRDO-funded project, conducted between 2015 and 2017, focused on the numerical and experimental study of unsteady aerodynamics of a pitching wing. Researchers developed numerical codes for unsteady pre- and post-stall aerodynamics and set up experimental facilities for pressure and load measurements.

An earlier project from 2010 to 2012 focused on predicting 2D and 3D aerodynamic characteristics for unsteady post-stall flow, according to IIT Madras's official website.

Together, these projects highlight IIT Madras' continued research into aircraft aerodynamics, morphing wings and technologies aimed at improving flight performance and control.

(With PTI inputs)

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