Sub-Project 4 for Structures
SP4 focuses on new lightweight structural material (Hot and cold structures form the engine " back bone"). They provide basic engine stiffness and transfer high mechanical loads to and from the engine interior. Therefore the structures contributes to 15 - 20% of the engine weight.
Objectives
• Find a breakthrough shaft technology that is able to transmit a higher torque
• Improve torque density by 50% increase.
Challenge
State of the art
• Cold Fan Structure: Titanium castings/forgings or non-structural PMC. Combined aero/mechanical function starting to be introduced
• Cold Core Structures: Integral titanium castings.
• Hot Structures: Cast or fabricated superalloy structures. Not designed for low noise.
• Whole Engine Modelling – WEM: Used to predict internal loads and to model of composite structures not done today.
Breakthrough
Approach
From Technical assessment and coordination :
• Engine architecture will be optimized for novel structure technologies.
• Whole engine will be modelled techniques for composites.
Expected results
• Design and manufacturing guidelines for how to achieve 20% weight reduction for hot and cold structures. Verified by full scale component tests to TRL 5.
• A competitive manufacturing automation procedure for titanium fabrications.
• A verified whole engine architecture optimisation procedure including constitutive models for composites.
See more
- Sub-Project 1 for whole engine assessment
- SP1 oversees the technical unity of the other sub-projects, and is in charge of design for each of the three engine architectures.
- Sub-Project 2 for Fan modules
- SP2 tests new fan module concepts and measures their aero-acoustic performance (contra-fan or lightweight fan).
- Sub-Project 3 for Booster
- SP3 evaluates the slow and high-speed booster (low-pressure compressors) concepts applicable to the different configurations.
- Sub-Project 5 for Low pressure shaft
- SP5 tests new concepts for a low-pressure shaft (which has to handle higher torque loads because of the slower fan speed). (Source : Brochure)
- Sub-Project 6 for Low pressure turbine
- SP6 seeks to identify new, lighter and quieter turbine concepts.
- Sub-Project 7 for Installation
- SP7 evaluates the impact of installing a high-bypass-ratio engine under the wing.