Fiber Reinforced Shape Changing Polymer Composites

With the recent development of structures that enable morphing aircraft, there is a need for a skin material capable of high in-plane strains while resisting aerodynamic loads. NextGen Aeronautics has partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to develop a fiber reinforced shape memory (SMP) matrix composite material for morphing wing skins. By pairing a fiber with an SMP matrix a composite is created that will withstand high out-of-plane surface pressures yet once activated the SMP will facilitate actuation with low external energy requirements. NextGen Aeronautics will combine its knowledge from the development of FlexSkin, a skin capable of large in-plane shearing, with University of Pittsburgh expertise in the area of developing smart and morphing materials. The objective of the Phase I research is to demonstrate a fiber reinforced composite with an SMP matrix that is capable of 60 degrees in-plane shearing. The ability to undergo large shearing shape changes and the out-of-plane stiffness will be demonstrated experimentally. Phase II will focus on improving the activation mechanism of the SMP and the response time of the shape change. The team will demonstrate the integration of the skin onto large morphing aircraft structures.