Pressure-adaptive honeycomb has significant benefits with respect to conventional (electromechanical) actuators. There are no sliding or hinging parts which means there is no wear and tear through operation. Manufacturing, assembly, and integration into conventional wing structures are all straightforward and can rely on conventional techniques and certified materials. In terms of compliance it has been estimated based on prior experiments on conventional honeycombs that strains in excess of 50% can be achieved in either principal direction. It can be seen that pressure-adaptive honeycomb displays relatively large strains compared to other adaptive materials. Its volumetric energy density rivals that of the electromechanical servo. Additionally the mass specific energy density of this pressureadaptive honeycomb is close to that of shape memory alloys, which have the highest mass specific energy density of all adaptive material classes.

File Number: 10KU005L 

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