On the design of piezoelectric smart fins for flight vehicles

A systematic approach for the design of active piezoelectric fins developed for a small-scale flight vehicle is presented. The proposed design approach uses analytical and computational tools that are based on the high-order theory and provides a graphical representation of the response spectrum of the active fin. In addition, it enables the coupling of the structural and aerodynamic analyses and provides a frame in which the results of the two types of analysis are adjoined. A numerical design study of a twist-actuated smart fin is presented and discussed. The results reveal the sensitivity of the structure to a broad range of geometrical, mechanical, and electromechanical design variables and provide guidelines for the optimization of the active structure. A set of normalized design master curves that can be scaled to fit various geometrical layouts of the structure investigated are also presented and discussed.