How does AAW work? (Active Aeroelastic Wings)

[TimeRip496]

For a conventional wings, at high speed or fast roll, the leading edge of the wings will bend downwards. This will decrease angle of attack and subsequently lift. How does AAW make the wings bend the other way round? Is it due to the materials or the shape of the wings that is designed?

If such a wing is possible, why isn't it used in place of the conventional one? Other than it being still in the research phase, what drawbacks does it have which makes it less preferable compared to the conventional wings? And with wings at such low aeroelasticity, won't it flutter at high speed?

 

[anorlunda]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-53_Active_Aeroelastic_Wing

I had to look up AAW, and I found the interesting article above. It explains a little bit how it works.

 

[TimeRip496]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-53_Active_Aeroelastic_Wing

I had to look up AAW, and I found the interesting article above. It explains a little bit how it works.

It did not really answer my questions such as how does AAW make the wings bend the other way round or what are its drawbacks

 

[berkeman]

It did not really answer my questions such as how does AAW make the wings bend the other way round

It does look like that is addressed in the article.

AAW Technology employs wing aeroelastic flexibility for a net benefit through use of multiple leading and trailing edge control surfaces activated by a digital flight control system. At higher dynamic pressures, AAW control surfaces are used as "tabs" which are deflected into the air stream to produce favorable wing twist instead of the reduced control generally associated with “aileron reversal” caused by trailing edge surfaces. The energy of the air stream is employed to twist the wing with less control surface motion; the wing itself creates the control forces.

what are its drawbacks

I'm sure the extra complexity and weight are drawbacks. Can you think of others? Is this for schoolwork maybe?

 

[TimeRip496]

It does look like that is addressed in the article.

It is mentioned in the article but it doesn't really elaborate on how the wings bend such that the air power will give the plane more control input. I was thinking it is done by adjusting the leading and trailing edge of the wings such that the wings will bend in the 'correct' shape but I don't know what the 'correct shape' is.

For instance, if the plane is to roll to the right, its aileron on the port side has to be deflected downwards so as to create an upward lift. However at high speed, the wing will bend and this will decrease its attack of attack which will reverse the roll instead. So how does AAW bend to the correct shape? I see diagram which shows the leading edge bend upwards while the trailing edge bend downwards and the air power will then bend the wing even more such that its angle of attack increase instead. Is this supposed to be how it works?