Morphing wing technology holds the potential to revolutionize aviation by dramatically improving fuel efficiency, enhancing operational flexibility, and enabling unparalleled versatility for both military and civilian applications. Recent advances in materials science and engineering have driven the development of morphing wings equipped with active deformation systems, leading to lightweight, flexible, and aerodynamically optimized designs. Notably, 4D printing has emerged as a groundbreaking method for fabricating complex, lightweight structures with tailored material properties, facilitating the precise production of flexible and adaptive components critical for morphing wing technology.
This study explores 4D-printed morphing wings utilizing Shape Memory Polymer Composites. The wing skin is designed as a composite sandwich structure, consisting of two flexible outer layers that enable active deformation while maintaining surface smoothness, and a core megastructure that provides stiffness and resistance. Experimental and numerical simulations reveal that this design achieves substantial deformations while preserving sufficient stiffness and structural integrity. The high-quality fabrication of these 4D-printed wings underscores the potential of this technique to meet the demands of next-generation aviation design. Furthermore, optimization of the composite structure is conducted using data-driven methods. Key design variables, including the geometric parameters of the cell units and the thickness of the outer layers, were analyzed to achieve an optimal balance of flexibility, stiffness, and aerodynamic efficiency. These findings highlight the transformative potential of 4D printing and advanced composite design in shaping the future of aviation technology.
