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Research

The Project

Three technical challenges have been identified to meet the overall project objective of developing and demonstrating SMA technology for in-flight tailoring of sonic boom, drag, and aircraft trim. These three represent technical barriers for which there is a quantifiable measure of success that will be met via sustained research effort.

Technical Challenges and Project Milestones

Challenge 1:

Develop and/or incorporate integrated multi-disciplinary validated tools to enable the quantitative understanding of in situ small-scale distributed adaptivity (SSDA) and its impact on flight performance and sonic boom noise.

Challenge 2:

Design and demonstrate new producible and certifiable SMA materials, systems, and components that will enable in-flight OML/aerostructural modifications and SSDA.

Challenge 3:

Demonstration of SMA technology for high-performing SSDA applications. These demonstrations would include analysis, benchtop testing, and wind tunnel testing.

Challenge process diagram
Challenge Process Diagram: Three technical challenges have been identified to meet the overall project objective of developing and demonstrating SMA technology for in-flight tailoring of sonic boom, drag, and aircraft trim. These three represent technical barriers for which there is a quantifiable measure of success that will be met via sustained research effort. Teams addressing the three challenges will work in a synergistic manner. Challenge 3 incorporates the developments of Challenges 1 and 2.

Contact

For further information contact:

John F. Gaine
Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

Phone: 202-358-0715

john.gaine@nasa.gov

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