Project Case Studies

Propulsion Airframe Integration

Contract awarded as part of NASA’s
Revoluntionary Aeropropulsion Concepts Initiative 
Sponsor: NASA Glenn

Goal:
Develop a highly efficient flow sensing and control system to eliminate adverse propulsion inlet/boundary layer interactions common to advanced propulsion-airframe (PAI) integration concepts.

Approach:
Microphones will be used for boundary layer flow sensing and as a part of an innovative ejector pump-based fluidic actuator concept for flow control. Microphones show promise as lightweight, robust sensors that are easily mounted non-intrusively. Ejector pump flow control actuators are mechanically simple devices that provide efficient suction and blowing from a single source of high-pressure air.

Subcontractors / Partners:
Virginia Tech’s Virbration and Acoustics Laboratory (Dr. Ricardo Burdisso)

Military & Commercial Applications:
Effective flow control may be the only way to solve the problems associated with highly integrated engine/airframe configurations for future commercial aircraft. The ability to successfully manage inlet flow fields and eliminate or minimize flow field distortion could also result in volume and weight savings for future advanced military aircraft.