Morphing Aerospace Vehicles and Structures Hardback - 2012

From the earliest times, engineers have been inspired by birds as models for flight vehicles, and more specifically, shape changing or morphing flight vehicles. A common thematic element has been to gaze upon a bird and imagine "the bird that changes into an airplane", and vice versa. Now that this vision is within reach, exciting research is investigating the methodologies and technologies required.

Morphing Aerospace Vehicles and Structures is a synthesis of the relevant disciplines and applications involved in the morphing of fixed wing flight vehicles. The book is organized into three major sections on Bio-Inspiration, Control and Dynamics, and Smart Materials and Structures. Most chapters are both tutorial and research oriented in nature, covering elementary concepts through advanced and in many cases novel methodologies. Insightful numerical and experimental results compliment the technical exposition wherever possible. To stimulate and encourage further investigation, all chapters discuss further topics for research in particular subject areas, and a summary chapter addresses broad challenges and directions for future research.

Key features:

• Features the work of leading researchers in the field of morphing flight. Covers a wide range of morphing technologies that includes Bio-Mechanics, Intelligent Control, Aerodynamics, Flight Mechanics and Control, and Smart Materials and Structures.
• Emphasizes the essential technical interdependencies of a variety of disciplines.
• Delivers practical insights while presenting a comprehensive treatment that maintains engineering and mathematical detail and rigor.
• Includes a brief history of morphing and bio-inspiration for air vehicles.

Morphing Aerospace Vehicles and Structures is an insightful reference and introduction to morphing that will be invaluable for practicing engineers and researchers in aerospace and mechanical engineering.