Description: 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 unducted 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.

Benefits: 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 and rotorcraft.

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.