Load alleviation on a wing equipped with articulated wingtips

According to recent studies, Flared Folding Wingtip devices (FFWT) can be used to increase the wingspan and efficiency of an aircraft without the need to give up the better roll rate and lesser loads of a shorter wing. First, the effect of the FWWT has been assessed. Then, the performances of a wing with FFWTs are compared with the ones of a wing with a fixed hinge, and of a baseline model from which the wingtips have been removed. The study includes the roll behaviour, a closer look at the wing root bending moment, and a simple case of turbulence. In all of these cases, the FFWT keeps its promises, reducing wing root bending moments by up to 25% and recovering most of the roll capabilities of a short wing.