A variety of emerging technologies are fast approaching commercialization. These include ceramic-matrix, metal-matrix and polymer-matrix composites, ceramic bearings, solid lubricants, and ultra-high-speed motors/generators. These technologies provide several benefits for gas turbine engines in terms of reduced volume & weight, reduced fuel consumption, and competitive diminishing costs. The benefits are even more significant for small gas turbine engines which otherwise lag in performance and efficiency. However, the aviation community is not yet ready to adopt these leading-edge technologies for man-rated aircraft engines. Instead, it seems more prudent to use these emerging technologies on low-risk propulsion systems like those for Unmanned Air Vehicles. UAVs, due to the advent of microelectronics, smart sensors and artificial intelligence, are finding increasing roles and replacing manned aircraft in hostile environments. UAVs themselves offer an expanding lucrative market. More importantly, UAVs can be used as a vehicle for gaining experience with the materials, processing, design methodology, life prediction and other aspects of emerging technologies. Later, these technologies can be used on larger, man-rated propulsion systems. This paper discusses UAVs, their requirements, various emerging technologies, synergies between UAVs and the emerging technologies, and possible directions for the future.
Emerging technologies for gas turbine engines: U.A.V. synergies
Ausflußströmungstechnologien für Gasturbinenmotoren: Synergien bei unbemannten Luftfahrzeugen
AIAA-Papers ; 1-9
1992
9 Seiten, 3 Bilder, 33 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Gasturbinenantrieb , Synergie , Materialforschung , Werkstoffeignung , Ausflussströmung , Keramik , Matrix (Grundmasse) , Metallmatrix , Pressmasse (Polymer) , Festschmierstoff , Technikbewertung , Kraftstoffeinsparung , Gewichtseinsparung , Kosteneinsparung , Betriebssicherheit , Auslegung (Dimension) , unbemanntes Gerät
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