Solar-powered aircraft can perform long-term flights with clean solar energy. However, the energy derived from solar irradiation is influenced by the time of year and latitude, which limits the energy acquisition ability of solar aircraft with a stra...
The folding wing deployment mechanisms of aircraft are constrained by weight and space limitations, necessitating fewer actuators, multiple outputs, compact designs, and high efficiency. However, existing folding wing mechanisms often overlook the im...
Truss-braced wings (TBWs) feature higher aspect ratios with a lighter weight and lower bending moment than conventional wings. These wings show significant potential for performance improvements in terms of fuel efficiency. However, additional config...
In the pursuit of a lighter composite wing design, fast and effective methodologies for sizing and validating the wing members (e.g., spar, ribs, skins, etc.) are required. In the present paper, the preliminary design methodology of an airliner main...
Birds have remarkable flight capabilities due to their adaptive wing morphology. However, studying live birds is time-consuming and laborious, and obtaining information about the complete wingbeat cycle is difficult. To address this issue and provide...
Detrimental environmental impacts due to the increasing demands of the aviation industry have gained tremendous global attention. With a potential fuel saving, along with high aerodynamic performance and maneuverability during different phases of a f...
Growing concerns over the CO2 footprint due the exponential demand of the aviation industry, along with the requirements for high aerodynamic performance, cost saving, and manoeuvrability during different phases of a flight, pave the path towards ada...
Aerial-aquatic unmanned vehicles are a combination of unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned submersibles, capable of conducting patrols in both the air and underwater domains. This article introduces a novel aerial-aquatic unmanned vehicle that integ...
The focus of this paper is on some of the activities performed by CIRA under the framework of the HERWINGT project (Hybrid Electric Regional Wing Integration Novel Wing Technologies) supported by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and funded by the...
Aircraft experience various phases during each flight. Optimal performance, without compromise, during various phases can be achieved through adaptability in the wing design. Morphing wing design encompasses most, if not all, the flight conditions va...
This work introduces a novel variable camber mechanism that combines the high-load capacity, structural stability, and mechanical efficiency of rigid-body mechanisms with the adaptability, lightweight design, and continuous and smooth motion of compl...
Compliant wing morphing devices deal with controlled and smooth adaptation of the subcomponents’ shape to external conditions. Their structural stiffness distribution, typically resulting from an optimization design process, is tailored to ensu...
This study examines the aerodynamic performance of a joined-wing (JW) aircraft design based on the NASA Common Research Model (CRM), aiming to assess its potential for efficient commercial transport or cargo aircraft at transonic speed (Mach 0.85). T...
Adhesive joints between dissimilar layers of metals and composites are increasingly used by different industries, as they promise significant weight savings and, consequently, a reduction in energy consumption and pollutant emissions. In the present...
This paper aims to verify the effectiveness of a process of superficial protection based on nanotechnologies produced by 4Ward360 and specifically developed for aeronautical applications on composite material aircraft. The Dardo aircraft, a composite...
Bonded joints used in wing sections and frames of aircraft structures are mostly exposed to cyclic loadings instead of static ones during their services. Bending types of dynamic loadings are mostly encountered. In this study, the fatigue response of...
This paper proposes a learning-based joint morphing and flight control framework for avian-inspired morphing aircraft. Firstly, a novel multi-objective multi-phase optimal control problem is formulated to synthesize the comprehensive flight missions,...
The lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM), a critical component of the masticatory muscles, typically comprises upper (SLPM) and lower (ILPM) heads. However, it is essential to note that the LPM’s structure is not a constant feature, as the number of...