SBIR-STTR Award

With propulsion research programs focused on new levels of efficiency and noise, there are two emerging avenues for advanced gas turbine technology: the geared turbofan and ultra-high bypass ratio fan engines. Both of these candidates are being pursued as collaborative research projects between NASA and the engine OEMs. The high bypass concept from GE Aviation is an unducted fan which features a bypass ratio of over thirty, along with the accompanying benefits in fuel efficiency. The innovation being developed in this project is improvement is the test and measurement capabilities of the fan blade dynamic response. In the course of this project, Mechanical Solutions, Inc. (MSI) will work with GE Aviation to define the requirements for fan blade measurements, to leverage MSI's radar-based system for compressor and turbine blade monitoring, and to develop, validate and deliver a non-contacting blade vibration measurement system for unducted fans.

Potential NASA Commercial Applications:
(Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) The goals for this project are to design and construct an innovative and non-intrusive unducted fan blade dynamics measurement system with resolution capable of characterizing fan blade dynamic modes. Development and demonstration of such a system will provide substantially superior capabilities to current measurement technology. As the NASA / GE program moves ahead, the work in this project will deliver a unique non-contacting blade measurement system to improve the test and measurement technology in the NASA Glenn 9x5 and 8x6 wind tunnel facilities.

Potential NON-NASA Commercial Applications:
(Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) The technology developed in this project will directly useful to the OEMs of turbofan and turboprop engines for military and commercial use. Beyond propulsion systems, there is great potential in blade health management systems for wind turbines. NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.

Technology Taxonomy Mapping:
Aircraft Engines Microwave/Submillimeter Testing Facilities Testing Requirements and Architectures

Integrating MSI's radar probe and blade tip-timing technology will facilitate long-term health monitoring for AEDC's Plant Exhauster compressors. Through collaborative planning meetings, measurements/ tests will be scheduled and options investigated to define optimal sensor locations. MSI and AEDC's Test Operating Support contractor will interact closely during acquisition/ measurement hardware installation, data recording/ monitoring, compressor operation and post-test analysis. To support reliable, long-term (>5-years) data acquisition/ monitoring, initial test measurements will drive sensor design and installation updates. Water content measurement and blade tip-timing techniques developed will be verified with eddy current testing and high-speed photography referee methods, respectively. System hardware upgrades to the current AEDC Gen IV tip-timing acquisition architecture will ensure health monitoring system compatibility, while reducing the operator's setup/ monitoring requirements. Data communication and software updates defined by MSI will enable the distribution of acquired water content and blade time-of-arrival data to AEDC's monitoring systems. COTS tip-timing data acquisition hardware will be delivered that's compatible with the updated water measurement/ tip-timing sensors and AEDC's health monitoring system architecture. Sensors and an acquisition system containing design updates to enable reliable, long-term monitoring will be produced, and will be installed to monitor AEDC's Exhaust compressors. MSI also will issue technical documentation.