Overview
The project tackled the design, manufacturing and testing of an advanced turboprop 90-seat regional aircraft complete powered model. The model was tested in a Wind-Tunnel with the aim of evaluating the performance of the high-lift devices in different configurations.
Major work packages therefore are the design and manufacturing of the model, the design and manufacturing of an engine demonstrator, the integration of all the parts into the model and the final test including a ground-vibration test as well as the Wind-Tunnel test under low-speed conditions.
The consortium set up for this proposal therefore consisted of companies specialised in the three domains. IBK coordinated the consortium and perform the design. Revoind Industriale performed the manufacturing, RUAG as third partner focused on the engine development.
The proposal tackled these different tasks and introduced a number of highly innovative approaches to solve the detailed problems that arise in such a complex task.
Funding
Results
Executive Summary:
In LOSITA an aerodynamic characterisation of a Green Regional Aircraft configuration comprising laminar-flow technology as well as rear-mounted turbofans was performed by means of wind-tunnel tests, with a special emphasis on innovative solutions for high-lift devices. In order to achieve this, a consortium of three partners was built and implemented. These three partners are:
- IBK-Innovation in charge of project management and model design and data post-processing.
- RUAG for developing an engine simulator allowing to simulate the rear-mounted turbofan
- EUROTECH (replacing REVOIND) for model manufacturing
In order to perform the test-activities, specific requirements for the tests and the WT-model needed to be defined. Due to the fact that the model is large (span of 4.9m) all activities needed to be planned with care, including logistics onsite in the WT. The WT was chosen to be the RUAG Large-Wind Tunnel in Emmen.
During the project, a wind-tunnel model with a strong emphasis on reducing time for configurational changes was designed. This included solutions for actuated devices, which could work together with a hinge-moment measurement solution.
In the project RUAG performed the development of the engines to be tested in the LOSITA WT-Model and EUROTECH was in charge of manufacturing the model.
Due to the need for substituting, a partner project management was strongly challenged. The result was a major project adaptation in terms of budget distribution as well as overall project schedule. EUROTECH was successfully implemented, substituting REVOIND as a partner and taking over the manufacturing activities. Due to the need to cope with a reduced budget and time available, the model was simplified, thus removing control-device actuation. The model was delivered to the Wind-Tunnel in Emmen in Q1/2017.
After model availability, the tests were performed in the RUAG-Wind-Tunnel using a test-matrix, including both powered and unpowered tests, jointly defined together with the Topic Manager. The Wind-Tunnel tests were performed as planned, allowing a characterization of the noise acting on the wing and analysing the effect of low-noise technologies developed with the GRA-ITD.
As a final outcome, the project can present the aerodynamic characterization of the GRA-configuration.