Innovative Blade Trailing Edge Flap Design Concept using Flexible Torsion Bar and Worm Drive
Kwangtae Ha
Abstract
In this paper, a simple but effective trailing edge flap system was proposed. This preliminary concept uses a more practical and stable actuation system, which consists of a motor-driven worm gear drive and a flexible torsion bar. The flexible torsion bar is designed to be easily twisted while keeping bending rigidity as a support, and the worm gear drive not only provides high torque to overcome aerodynamic forces on the flap area and the torsional rigidity of the support bar, but also acts as a brake to avoid instability due to the high torsional flexibility of the support bar. A preliminary level design study was performed to show the applicability of the new trailing edge flap system for wind turbine rotor blades or helicopter blades. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2020-01-03-01 Full Text: PDF