Design for Performance - Mechanics and Producibility of alternative engines DFP-MP

Purpose and goal

The aim of the project was to create better understanding of the design of aero-engine structures based on their architecture. The methods developed in the project facilitates such improved understanding by visualizing the architecture of the engine structures and providing quantitative comparison means.

Expected results and effects

As a result of the project, a component architecture description and evaluation scheme, particularly applicable to aero engine structures have been developed. The description scheme is supported by a complexity metric that assists in the classification, comparison and design optimization of various engine structure designs, developed by GKN Aerospace. The project is a clear instance of academically developed methods providing industrial benefits.

Planned approach and implementation

The work has been done collaboratively between GKN Aerospace and Chalmers University of Technology, with the majority of the activities performed on-site at GKN. This arrangement has been beneficial to the project since realistic industrial data can be readily made available for research. The simultaneous involvement of the researcher in industrial and academic settings resulted in faster transfer of research data and ready availability of industrial design facilities.