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: 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.
