Final Report Summary - RIBLET (The Development and Construction of a Master Mould for Riblet Construction)
Executive Summary:
The project is described and the deliverables attained are explained alongside images of the materials manufactured in the accompanying uploaded final report.
Project Context and Objectives:
The main objectives of the project was to design and produce nickel shims containing very precise surface riblets. The shim is a single piece capable of being folded into a cylinder and joined using a substantially seamlessly welding process. The shim manufacture and the welding process are state of the art and employed and developed as a consequence of this project. Full details including images of products produced may be found in the accompanying uploaded final report.
Project Results:
Before this project no group had been able to produce large (1250mm x 1250mm) continuous shims containing riblets that are consistently 51 microns high and spaced 96 microns apart. In addition it was imperative to join these shims seamlessly to create a cylinder capable of creating a series of sub-master shims that can be attached to an Applicator (produced by a separate project). A full description, including images of the products manufactured, may be found in the accompanying final report.
Potential Impact:
It has been independently verified that structured surfaces can exhibit beneficial air flow properties to large objects such as aircraft. The Riblet project is part of a much larger program to create a process of applying a nano-structured riblet surface to both new and existing aircraft bodies and wings. The objective is to reduce the drag caused by the flow of air past the aircraft and thereby reduce the fuel requirement of the aircraft. The deliverables of the Riblet project are to produce large scale structured shims capable of producing a series of equivalent sub-master shims that can be fitted to a dedicated applicator. The applicator design and production is a separate project from Riblet. Because the Riblet project is only one part of a much larger project we have disseminated the results to IFAM and Clean Sky's but have not disclosed them publically to ensure that the other projects are not compromised.
List of Websites:
Not applicable
The project is described and the deliverables attained are explained alongside images of the materials manufactured in the accompanying uploaded final report.
Project Context and Objectives:
The main objectives of the project was to design and produce nickel shims containing very precise surface riblets. The shim is a single piece capable of being folded into a cylinder and joined using a substantially seamlessly welding process. The shim manufacture and the welding process are state of the art and employed and developed as a consequence of this project. Full details including images of products produced may be found in the accompanying uploaded final report.
Project Results:
Before this project no group had been able to produce large (1250mm x 1250mm) continuous shims containing riblets that are consistently 51 microns high and spaced 96 microns apart. In addition it was imperative to join these shims seamlessly to create a cylinder capable of creating a series of sub-master shims that can be attached to an Applicator (produced by a separate project). A full description, including images of the products manufactured, may be found in the accompanying final report.
Potential Impact:
It has been independently verified that structured surfaces can exhibit beneficial air flow properties to large objects such as aircraft. The Riblet project is part of a much larger program to create a process of applying a nano-structured riblet surface to both new and existing aircraft bodies and wings. The objective is to reduce the drag caused by the flow of air past the aircraft and thereby reduce the fuel requirement of the aircraft. The deliverables of the Riblet project are to produce large scale structured shims capable of producing a series of equivalent sub-master shims that can be fitted to a dedicated applicator. The applicator design and production is a separate project from Riblet. Because the Riblet project is only one part of a much larger project we have disseminated the results to IFAM and Clean Sky's but have not disclosed them publically to ensure that the other projects are not compromised.
List of Websites:
Not applicable
