Comparison of roll control, adverse yaw, and drag in traditional and morphing aileron-winglets using Flightstream

This work presents a detailed comparison between the traditional aileron-winglet configuration of a UAV used as a flying laboratory and an innovative morphing aileron-winglet concept. As part of ongoing research on the multidisciplinary design optimization of morphing aircraft, the study aims to evaluate the effects of local wingtip morphing on lift distribution, lateral–directional stability, and roll performance. The work employs Altair FlightStream version 26.0 to develop high-fidelity aerodynamic models for both configurations, following rigorous geometry preparation and a mesh-independence study that establishes a validated structured “Golden Master Mesh”. Simulations were conducted across selected angles of attack and aileron deflections, enabling the extraction of aerodynamic coefficients and spanwise load distributions. The results provide a quantitative assessment of roll-control authority, adverse yaw, and drag penalties associated with morphing versus conventional control surfaces. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of morphing wing technologies and offer a reproducible methodological framework to support future publications and continued development in aircraft morphing aerodynamics.