My name is Ben Woods and I am an American Aerospace Engineer currently working in the United Kingdom.

  I am a Research Officer in the College of Engineering of Swansea University , under the supervision of Prof. Michael I. Friswell . My research is part of a project funded by the European Research Council entitled Optimisation of Multi-scale Structures with Applications to Morphing Aircraft.

  My work at Swansea University is focused on the development of a novel morphing airfoil structure called the "FishBAC", short for Fish Bone Active Camber mechanism.  This concept employs a highly anisotropic compliant structure.  The biologically inspired arrangement of a thin bending spine, shape maintaining "ribs" (or more properly "stringers" in this aerospace application) and a flexible Elastomeric Matrix Composite skin create a structure capable of large, bi-directional, changes in airfoil camber.  Large changes to the lift coefficient are obtained with only modest increases in drag, creating a significantly more efficient variable lift solution than the flaps traditionally used.

FishBAC Wind Tunnel Model - Unmorphed

  The aim of my work with the FishBAC concept centers on proving its viability as a real life solution for a wide range of applications, including manned and unmanned airplanes, helicopters, wind turbines, tiltrotors, and underwater tidal stream turbines.  To this end, the design and efficacy of the structure is being investigated using a range of analytical and experimental techniques.  Multiple modeling approaches of differing fidelity and scale are being applied to the concept to understand and optimize the various components. Similarly, experimental testing is being performed individually on the various components and on the integrated system.

  Please feel free to contact me should you be interested in any of the material contained in this website.

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