Overview
The project pertained to the wind tunnel testing of the engine air-intakes of a tilt-rotor aircraft. The testing activity aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the internal intake duct shape optimisation performed by GRC. Both the original and the optimised duct geometries will be tested in a purposely designed and manufactured nacelle model which includes the rotor hub and the external part of the wing.
Detailed measurements of the duct internal flow will be carried out, including bench tests with an internal PIV survey that will increase the insight in the physical flow behaviour.
Funding
Results
Final Report Summary - TETRA (TEst of Tilt-Rotor Air intakes)
Executive Summary:
The TETRA project is in the frame of CleanSky Project and particularly in the frame of the GRC2 subproject (Reduced drag of airframe & non lifting rotating parts) of the Green Rotorcraft (GRC) Integrated Technology Demonstrators.
Due to the expected growth of the rotorcraft traffic for passenger transport, the rotorcraft (including tilt-rotor) contribution to environmental impact, negligible today, would become more significant in next decade unless a major initiative succeeds in keeping it under control. An important aspect for the energy efficiency of an aircraft (and consequently for the reduction of the fuel burn and CO 2 emissions) is the behaviour of the engine air-intakes.
The present project pertains to the wind tunnel testing of the air-intake of a tiltrotor European platform (ERICA). The aim of the activity is the evaluation of the effectiveness (mainly in terms of pressure losses and flow uniformity at the AIP) of the shape optimisation performed by GRC consortium on the intake duct. Both original and optimised configurations were tested to assess the optimisation effectiveness by comparison.
The project was based on wind tunnel testing activity. The tests were carried out on a model appositely developed in the frame of the present project. Two different model of internal ducts were produced to compare the original and the optimized shape. The complete air-intake configuration models (including nacelle and external wing) were tested with the original and the optimized duct at Politecnico Wind Tunnel (GVPM), in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the new intake design optimised by GRC2. The wind tunnel tests included the use of internal PIV technique to evaluate some physical details.
The model was designed and produced by Revoind with collaboration of Politecnico di Milano. The control system and the test instrumentation was provided by Politecnico di Milano that also carried out the test activity.