Description du projet
Une technologie anti encrassement intelligente pour préserver les flux laminaires des aéronefs
Réduire la traînée des avions permet de diminuer la consommation de carburant et d’améliorer les performances globales. L’industrie aéronautique cherche actuellement des méthodes pour maintenir l’écoulement laminaire naturel et réduire les risques d’écoulement turbulent. On sait que les débris d’insectes qui s’accumulent sur les ailes représentent un problème opérationnel majeur dans la mesure où ils affectent l’écoulement laminaire. Le projet STELLAR, financé par l’UE, entend développer des applications efficaces et permanentes pour limiter l’encrassement et faciliter le nettoyage en étudiant de manière précise les caractéristiques des débris d’insectes. Le projet se penchera sur la transformation biochimique de l’hémolymphe, le fluide équivalent au sang chez la plupart des insectes, pendant le vol, et évaluera son impact sur la partie extérieure des aéronefs. Il identifiera également les propriétés des surfaces sur lesquelles les restes d’insectes adhérent le plus.
Objectif
The aircraft industry is facing issues with the increase of drag directly impacting the fuel consumption of the fleet. Achieving natural laminar flow requires high surface quality. Tiny air flow disturbances at the surface can indeed cause an early transition from laminar to turbulent flow. The accumulation of insect debris on the leading edge of laminar wings has been recognized as one of the most significant operational concerns associated with laminar flow. The main objective of STELLAR is to develop efficient and durable anticontamination coating and cleaning solutions designed following a deep understanding of the insect residues properties. Hence, STELLAR project seeks to gain insight on the understanding of the biochemical transformation of hemolymph during flight phases and the consequent physico-chemical modification and interaction with the aircraft surface. In order to meet these goals, the project consortium gathers cutting edge multidisciplinary knowledge and the needed facilities to provide a deep understanding of the insect contamination issues. STELLAR approach has the potential to significantly enhance the current understanding of the key issues and highlight which surface characteristics have the greatest influence on insect residue adhesion. From this approach, new coating and cleaning solutions will be developed. The knowledge acquired and the coating and cleaning solutions developed will be evaluated through large scale tests: 1) wind tunnel tests will allow the simulation of the extreme conditions occuring during flights and 2) real aircraft tests, including short flight tests (on test aircraft) and long flight tests (on commercial aircraft), operating at higher altitudes will allow a full validation of the new solutions developed by the STELLAR project.
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RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
7000 Mons
Belgique