Overview
The expected outcome of the NO-ICE-ROTOR project is structural and environmental test substantiation of ultra-high reliability heater layers which are capable to be integrated into an advanced tilt civil rotorcraft configuration with high cruise speed, low fuel consumption and gas emission, low community noise impact, and high productivity for operators.
The realisation of such an advanced tilt civil rotorcraft is the objective of the Clean sky Fast Rotorcraft Project (FRC). It is the aim of this project to use technologies developed through the Clean Sky Programme to demonstrate a compound rotorcraft configuration that combines the vertical lift capability of the conventional helicopter with the speed capability of a fixed wing aircraft in a sustainable way.
The overall objectives of the NO-ICE-ROTOR project are:
- Design and development of heater layer for application in tilt rotors
- Establishment of test criteria and test matrix project
- Manufacturing of suitable test pieces for ice protection system (IPS) testing
- Structural and environmental rig test adaptations for IPS testing
- IPS rig and coupon test realization and tests results
- Synthesis of results: comparison of performance of materials and of technologies tested
The specific objective of the NO-ICE-ROTOR project is to develop heater layers to be embedded in composite structures to provide anti-icing and de-icing capability where safety requirements dictate ultra-high reliability, while operating in high strain and vibration conditions. Structural and environmental testing will be conducted on representative test items consisting of functional heater layers embedded in the prop-rotor blade and airframe sections of a tilt-rotor configuration intended for civil certification.