An adaptive trailing edge for large commercial aircraft

This paper deals with the design of an adaptive trailing edge aimed at increasing the range capacity of a large commercial aircraft. Moving from the requisites, a brief discus-sion about the expected performance will be introduced together with a suitable layout. Then, the design of the structural system able to guarantee both the deformability and the structural resistance will be presented. The next step is devote to the actuation system design, able to be integrate din the structural body and bear the external aerodynamic load. The external skin contributes to load bearing but also to the actuation effort required. Details refer to other publications while here it is considered though its effect only. An aeroelastic study, ensuring the stability of the proposed device over the whole wing system will be finally dealt with. A discussion on the real applicability in the aeronautics will conclude the work, pointing out at the necessary improvement required. Other work on the same subject, but referring to other design and implementation aspect will be fully referred to.