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Preliminary investigation of the superelastic monostable spoiler for dynamic gust loads alleviation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2025

A. Castrichini Open the ORCID record for A. Castrichini [Opens in a new window] ,
E. Cosentino ,
F. Siotto Open the ORCID record for F. Siotto [Opens in a new window] ,
X. Sun ,
J. Coppin Open the ORCID record for J. Coppin [Opens in a new window] ,
R. Lozano Vargas ,
I. Ballesteros Ruiz  and
M. Hadjipantelis Open the ORCID record for M. Hadjipantelis [Opens in a new window]
A. Castrichini*
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
E. Cosentino
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
F. Siotto
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
X. Sun
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
J. Coppin
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
R. Lozano Vargas
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
I. Ballesteros Ruiz
Affiliation:
Airbus Operations Ltd., Bristol, UK
M. Hadjipantelis
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK
*
Corresponding author: A. Castrichini; Email: andrea.a.castrichini@airbus.com
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Abstract

This paper provides a preliminary investigation into the use of a novel passive aircraft flight loads alleviation device called the Superelastic Monostable Spoiler. The work focuses primarily on understanding the behaviour of such a device and the related loads alleviation performance during dynamic gust events. A number of different design parameters are explored, such as the trigger condition and the activation speed. The main aim of the paper is to define the preliminary operational requirements of such a device in order to guide the future detailed design, which is not addressed here. It was found that the Superelastic Monostable Spoiler could potentially provide loads alleviation performance comparable with typical gust loads alleviation technologies currently used in modern civil aviation based on the use of ailerons and spoilers.

Keywords

aircraft passive loads alleviationaeroelasticitygust loads

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , First View , pp. 1 - 17
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal Aeronautical Society

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