The aim of the Composite fan Aerodynamic, Aeroelastic and Aeroacoustic VAlidation Rig (CA3ViAR) project is the design of a Low-Speed Fan (LSF) that will develop instabilities, which are representative for fans in ultra-high-bypass-ratio (UHBR) engines of civil aircraft. During the project, extensive experimental tests to measure aerodynamic, aeroelastic and aeroacoustic performance under a wide range of operational conditions will be performed. The resulting models, data and documents will be published as an open test case, which is unique in the engine fan research.
These Low-Speed Fans bring new challenges from aerodynamic and structural perspectives. The higher bypass ratio (BPR) reduces the stall margin and increases the flutter risk. In parallel, the increased fan diameter is driving the intake design, with significant implications for drag and airflow inlet distortion at the Aerodynamic Interface Plan (AIP) under off-design and cross-wind conditions. By reducing the fan speed, the blade surfaces are aerodynamicly highly loaded, whereas the increasing diameter of the fan and the weight reduction of the fan blade itself leads to slender blade structures. Therefore, the application of lighter and stiffer materials, such as carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) instead of more conventional titanium alloys, is essential. These materials will provide more degrees of freedom during the design process of the fan in terms of “customised” stiffness and inertia distributions along the blade span. This demands the development of more reliable and accurate methods for the aerodynamic, aeroacoustic and aeroelastic design of engine fans.
The cooperation partners for this project are IBK-Innovation, Leibniz Universität Hannover, DREAM Innovation and Adamant Composites.
The project started in September 2019 and has a duration of 48 months.
This project has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 864256. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Clean Sky 2 JU members other than the Union.
Torben Eggers, M.Sc.