California Institute of Technology

Beverley McKeon

Kaushik Bhattacharya

Michael Ortiz

Paul Mazur

Christopher Yu

A multilayered active surface is presented whose rugosity can be controlled by an applied electrical field. Varying the applied electrical field can control the rugosity of the surface which makes contact with a fluid, and thereby can affect instabilities of the boundary layer. A middle layer of the multilayered active surface can be made of a compliant electroactive material. In some cases, a pre-stretch in the middle layer can predefine a rugosity of the multilayered active surface without an applied electrical field, in which case an applied electrical field can further alter the rugosity in both amplitude and spatial periodicity and ultimately result to a smooth surface for a higher value of the applied electrical field. A top layer and a bottom layer are constructed using conductive material and uses as electrodes coupled to a voltage source to generate the electric field that controls the rugosity of the surface.

Flow control technique by dielectric materials

A structure configured to modify its surface morphology between a smooth state and a rough state in response to an applied stress. In demonstrated examples, a soft (PDMS) substrate is produced, and is pre-strained. A relatively stiff overlayer of a metal, such as chromium and gold, is applied to the substrate. When the pre-strained substrate is allowed to relax, the free surface of the stiff overlayer is forced to become distorted, yielding a free surface having a roughness of less than 1 millimeter. Repeated application and removal of the applied stress has been shown to yield reproducible changes in the morphology of the free surface. An application of such morphing free surface is to control a boundary layer transition of an aerodynamic fluid flowing over the surface.

Morphing surfaces for the control of boundary layer transition

Systems and methods for providing dynamic control to a vehicle in a dynamic fluid. The systems and methods of the invention relate to one or more morphable surfaces that can be controlled by a controller and an actuator in an active manner to provide asperities that interact with a fluid moving across the morphable surfaces. By controlling the size, shape and location of the asperities, one can exert control authority over the motion of the vehicle relative to the fluid, including a speed, a direction and an attitude of the vehicle. Examples of materials that provide suitable morphable surfaces include ionic polymer metal composites and shape memory polymers, both of which types of material are commercially available. Useful morphable surface systems have been examined and are described.

Control of aerodynamic forces by variable wetted surface morphology

Systems and methods for providing dynamic control to a surface immersed in a dynamic fluid. The systems and methods of the invention relate to one or more morphable surfaces that can be control in an active manner to provide asperities that interact with a fluid moving across the morphable surfaces. By controlling the size, shape and location of the asperities, one can exert control authority over the motion of the surface relative to the fluid. Examples of materials that provide suitable morphable surfaces include ionic polymer metal composites and shape memory polymers, both of which types of material are commercially available. Useful morphable surface systems have been examined and are described.

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Tujunga, CA, United States of America

Beverley McKeon