FURI | Fall 2025

Unsteady Aerodynamics of Adaptive Morphing Airfoil Configurations Under Gust Inflow Using OpenFOAM

This research investigates the unsteady aerodynamic performance of adaptive morphing airfoil configurations subjected to gust inflow at varying angles of attack using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in OpenFOAM. Multiple static configurations of a baseline NACA airfoil, representing morphing states through variations in camber and control surface deflection, are analyzed to assess their aerodynamic stability and efficiency under transient inflow conditions. A Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence model is employed to capture dominant unsteady flow features such as vortex shedding, flow separation, and pressure fluctuations induced by gust disturbances. The study aims to identify how geometric adaptability influences lift, drag, and moment characteristics and to determine morphing configurations that passively mitigate gust-induced load variations. The findings provide physical insight into the aerodynamic mechanisms governing morphing airfoils in unsteady environments and contribute to the development of adaptive, energy-efficient, and gust-tolerant wing technologies for UAVs and small aircraft.