Abstract

The aerospace community is currently considering open rotors for the next generation of aircraft. These engines bring advantages in propulsive efficiency but also challenges, not least in addressing the noise radiation aspects. In order to ensure that we meet these challenges, whilst maintaining the high propulsive efficiency, a range of mathematical tools have been used to model the aero-acoustics and to optimise the large number of design variables. The tools include not only high fidelity computational fluid dynamics (steady and unsteady) but also analytical tools that have been used to great effect within the design/optimisation process. The talk will cover the design concepts, the various tools we have used and the significant improvements in the engines that have resulted. We will also cover the accompanying experimental work, the validation of the improvements in the design concepts and the way mathematics is used to apply sophisticated corrections to test data.