United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Nitin Bhagat

Alexander Pankonien

Ryan Durscher

Additive and subtractive manufacturing (e.g. 3D Printing) is used to form aeroelastic airfoils with control surface region(s) having conventional rib/spar structural topologies and a continuous skin (e.g smooth surface) formed over the entire outer surface of the airfoil. The control surface is moved with internal actuators resulting in a 'morphing' airfoil as the skin stretches to follow the moving structure of the control surface region. The airfoil can include a plurality of different material moduli and geometric featuring to balance the appropriate control of stiffness with topological requirements.

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Fairborn, OH, United States of America

Nitin Bhagat