Design and Experimental Validation of Real-Time Drag Optimization and Maneuver Load Alleviation Controls for a High Aspect Ratio Flexible Transport Wing

This paper presents control strategies for cruise drag minimization and maneuver load alleviation on a high aspect ratio flexible transport wing. The approach combines online parameter estimation with real-time control to minimize drag and reduce wing root loads in a wind tunnel environment. Experiments were conducted on an aeroelastically scaled, half-span Common Research Model in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. Results demonstrate a 12.2% reduction in drag from an initial high-drag condition while maintaining the target lift, and wing root strain reductions of approximately 13.2% during a high lift maneuver. These findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategies in achieving drag reduction and load alleviation under realistic actuation and measurement constraints.