Periodic Reporting for period 3 - ASPIRE (Aerodynamic and acouStic for high-by-Pass ratIo tuRbofan intEgration)
Período documentado: 2018-01-01 hasta 2018-09-30
Increasing the by-pass ratio for turbofans further towards UHBR technology (BPR between 12 and 20) is expected to bring substantial additional SFC improvement comparable or even superior to the expected gain of CROR technologies. The use of innovative technologies such as new light weight materials, allows a shift to higher values of the optimal BPR value of HBR or UHBR engines which is driven by a compromise between propulsive efficiency, aerodynamic drag and weight.
However, the integration of UHBR engines under the wing is a challenge. Indeed, because of the size of these engines tremendous interactions occur with other aircraft components such as the nacelle, the pylon, the wing or the high-lift devices.
In this context, the overall objective of the ASPIRE project is to demonstrate to ability of existing numerical and experimental methods to accurately assess the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of such configurations thanks to a reliable modelling of fan/airframe physical interactions. In more details, the technical objectives are:
1. Design generic fan/OGV combinations representative of future UHBR engine;
2. Demonstrate the ability of CFD codes (NLR ENFLOW , ONERA elsA, DLR TAU, DLR TRACE) to predict aerodynamic performance of aircraft equipped with UHBR engines;
3. Demonstrate the ability of aero-acoustic methods to predict aeroacoustic performance of aircraft equipped with UHBR engines;
4. Identify and assess the experimental capabilities for the characterization of UHBR installation noise sources.
Based on these geometries and the other geometric elements provided by Airbus (isolated nacelle, Air inlet and Nozzle), aerodynamic steady and unsteady URANS 360° computations were performed and compared by NLR, DLR and ONERA in different aerodynamic conditions to assess the impact of the fan/OGV combination on the airframe performance and vice et versa (see Figure 1). Active Flow Control strategies were also evaluated to reduce flow separation in the air inlet at high angle of attack.
These aerodynamic computations were completed by numerical aero-acoustic analysis for fan and jet noise prediction. Some activities conducted by the partners aimed at evaluating the ability of numerical methods to assess the impact of distortions in the air inlet, of heterogeneous OGV or of laminar fan blade on fan noise (Tone, Broadband and buzz Saw noise - Figure 2). Other tasks are dedicated to the jet noise prediction and the use of advanced numerical methods (LES or DES coupled with CAA).
Regarding experimental acoustic mean development, the activities conducted in ASPIRE by the consortium aimed at improving the inflow instrumentation for WTT, at developing dedicated post-processing procedure to correct WT or Flight-Test measurements and at developing specific means and features for noise reduction. In this framework, a common liner test case has been defined and tested in several facilities by ONERA, DLR and TsAGI in order to compare the results of impedance eduction model and the different measurement techniques applied by the partners.
Regarding experimental activities, the test case defined to compare the results obtained in different acoustic liner test benches on a unique liner sample provided very relevant results to improve existing numerical and experimental prediction methods. This also provided to Airbus useful indications regarding the real noise reduction level obtained with acoustic liners.
Furthermore, original experimental acoustic approaches were tested to measure the interactions between airframe and engine (e.g. jet-flap interaction noise, boundary layer refraction correction with rotating sources). These approaches will be strategic tools during future wind tunnel and flight tests of future aircraft equipped with UHBR engines.