ARIAS

The design of engines for air transport is driven by high efficiency (more environmentally friendly) and low noise. This leads to lighter designs with fewer  stages, thinner sections (blades, vanes, seals) and highly loaded components. These thinner, highly loaded components are more likely to suffer from vibrations that directly compromise the structural integrity of the machine.

It is widely acknowledged by engine manufacturers that the current methods do not reliably predict these vibrations.  The ARIAS project is aiming to improve these methods by performing unique ground experiments (rig tests) that investigate key problems. The data from these experiments will improve the current understanding of the physical processes that cause these vibrations and the data will be used to improve and validate design methods.

The expected impacts of the project include the reduced risk of structural failures due to vibrations, the ability to reliably optimize engine designs for high efficiency and low noise, and the reduction in design time and costs.