NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Initial Assessment of Open Rotor Propulsion Applied to an Advanced Single-Aisle AircraftApplication of high speed, advanced turboprops, or propfans, to subsonic transport aircraft received significant attention and research in the 1970s and 1980s when fuel efficiency was the driving focus of aeronautical research. Recent volatility in fuel prices and concern for aviation s environmental impact have renewed interest in unducted, open rotor propulsion, and revived research by NASA and a number of engine manufacturers. Unfortunately, in the two decades that have passed since open rotor concepts were thoroughly investigated, NASA has lost experience and expertise in this technology area. This paper describes initial efforts to re-establish NASA s capability to assess aircraft designs with open rotor propulsion. Specifically, methodologies for aircraft-level sizing, performance analysis, and system-level noise analysis are described. Propulsion modeling techniques have been described in a previous paper. Initial results from application of these methods to an advanced single-aisle aircraft using open rotor engines based on historical blade designs are presented. These results indicate open rotor engines have the potential to provide large reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Initial noise analysis indicates that current noise regulations can be met with old blade designs and modern, noiseoptimized blade designs are expected to result in even lower noise levels. Although an initial capability has been established and initial results obtained, additional development work is necessary to make NASA s open rotor system analysis capability on par with existing turbofan analysis capabilities.
Document ID
20110015875
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Guynn, Mark D.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Berton, Jeffrey J.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Hendricks, Eric S.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Tong, Michael T.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Haller, William J.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Thurman, Douglas R.
(Army Research Lab. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 20, 2011
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-12112
Meeting Information
Meeting: 11th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Country: United States
Start Date: September 20, 2011
End Date: September 22, 2011
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 561581.02.08.07.13.11
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available