Aircraft advanced rear end and empennage optimisation enhanced by anti-ice coatings and devices

IMPACT tackles all the challenges of the call JTI-CS2-2019-CfP10-LPA-01-80, “Rear fuselage and empennage shape optimization including anti-icing technologies” by:

• unlocking the capability to perform fast and accurate 3D ice accretion simulation suitable for non-straight leading-edge empennages, accounting for effects of passive anti-ice coatings and devices like leading-edge undulations;
• characterising, integrating, and exploiting the passive anti-ice coatings and devices for non-straight leading-edge empennage configurations, reaching TRL 5 at the end of the project;
• developing and applying innovative aerostructural optimisation methods for advanced rear ends (ARE), including the effects of the passive anti-ice coatings and devices, to minimise drag and include structural and aeroelastic constraints;
• validate the accuracy of the 3D icing accretion simulations and the performance of passive anti-ice coating and devices by means of large scale icing wind tunnel (IWT) experimental tests.

To realize its ambition, IMPACT builds on a consortium of nine European partners from Austria, Italy and the UK, multiplying the value of EU-funding with a tenth partner from Canada, who joins the project without EU funding. The results delivered by IMPACT are expected to contribute significantly to the objectives of the CS2 IADP LPA ARE by reducing (i) its weight by 7-to-8%, (ii) its recurring costs by 5-to-6%, (iii) the LPA fuel consumption by 1.7-to-2.9%, and (iv) by favourably contributing to reducing lead time.

IMPACT will ultimately support Airbus’ progress with the advanced rear end concept, enhancing the competitiveness of the European LPA industry and value chain.