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 Cornerstone
Research Group — Partner in
Morphing Wing Structures Program
The adaptive structure program’s goal is to develop
and demonstrate viable composite materials and process
technology to support multiple Air Force morphing structural
applications. We intend to develop a prototype of a
form fit,  improved
function wing ready for simple integration and operational
testing. In the process, we are applying a unique suite
of smart materials technologies, such as CRG’s
shape memory polymers (Veriflex®),
shape memory composites (Veritex™),
and shape memory foams (Verilyte™).
We will also employ smart materials, engineering design,
process development, fabrication, and other supporting
technologies to meet goals and requirements.
This program will
benefit all three partners: the U.S. Air Force, a major aerospace
company and CRG. The program will develop the technology necessary
to construct deployable morphing missiles, aircraft, and other
innovative adaptive structure concepts critical to the Air
Force in the future. This technology will also increase the
aerospace company’s ability to extend the system goals
for multiple DoD applications in the near and far term. In
addition to enhancing their system platform capabilities,
this development will improve performance for other current
or future missile applications. Finally, the development of
this technology from prototype to integration and manufacturing
will demonstrate the capabilities CRG offers as a research
and development partner and materials innovator.
 During
the first year, design and engineering efforts will focus
on integrating new adaptive materials technologies into standard
composite structures. CRG will develop a preliminary prototype
design of an adaptive wing structure, develop a processing
approach for fabrication, validate previously undemonstrated
fabrication processes, and fabricate a working segment of
a morphing wing to prove feasibility. Design considerations
for the adaptive wing will include wing mass, primary structure,
leading and trailing edges, airfoil balance, seamless skin,
internal structure, actuation mechanisms, and environmental
stability. Following the first year, CRG will demonstrate
the concept by fabricating a full-sized working prototype
ready for integration.
Other possible smart materials technologies
for integration by our team include shape memory alloys, piezoelectric
actuators, magneto-rheological fluids and solids, self-healing
polymers and coatings.
CRG’s smart structures engineering team
is focused on integrating multiple smart material technologies
with conventional actuation mechanisms and on developing a
variety of smart adaptive or morphing structures. We are working
on demonstrating realistic morphing structure concepts for
near-term applications. The first-year efforts of this and
other program efforts will help CRG better understand TRL
levels, define our near-term morphing capabilities, help identify
the next enabling materials technologies necessary to round
out structural morphing composites capabilities, and predict
mid- and far-term morphing capabilities. (3-25-2004)
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