Reference: U195

Market Need

In a world of rising oil prices aircraft designers are constantly seeking new solutions to reduce drag and hence improve fuel efficiency. Noise reduction on landing and take-off is also one of several environmental challenge facing the industry

As part of the National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS) - Engine Technology Roadmap, the Environmentally Friendly Engine (EFE) Aerospace Technology Validation Programme (ATVP) have ambitious targets of:

• 10% reduction in CO2 Emissions from engines alone;
• 60% reduction in NOx emissions; and,
• 50% reduction in perceived noise levels.

The EFE programme is aimed at developing advanced manufacturing and aerodynamic technologies as part of the engine/nacelle demonstrator.

A key element of the aerodynamic technology development is laminar flow nacelles.

partners to provide a prototype for the ATVP.

Innovation

Scientists at the University of Ulster’s Advanced Metal Forming Research Group (AMFOR) have perfected a design method that increases the extent of laminar flow over the outer surface of the nacelle by extending the outer portion of the lip-skin and thus removing any flow interruptions.

The proposed system will not only be capable of forming the laminar flow lip-skins in a single hit, but also provides a unique capability for lip-skin sector production in the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sector.

Present production methods are fixed in the size of lip-skin sector, whereas the proposed system offers the capability to manufacture any sector size up to 120°. This greatly reduces the cost of repair, storage and shipping components to repair sites.

The damage tolerance and ease of repair makes metallic leading edges an attractive solution, even for new aircraft designs.

Further Information

Sean Nelson: +44 (0) 2890 366 703 / s.nelson@ulster.ac.uk