One of the propulsion concepts being investigated for future cruise missiles is advanced unducted propfans. To support the evaluation of this technology applied to the cruise missile, a joint DOD and NASA test project was conducted to design and then test the characteristics of the propfans on a 0.55-scale, cruise missile model in a NASA wind tunnel. The configuration selected for study is a counterrotating rearward swept propfan. The forward blade row, having six blades, rotates in a counterclockwise direction, and the aft blade row, having six blades, rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed from aft of the test model. Figures show the overall cruise missile and propfan blade configurations. The objective of this test was to evaluate propfan performance and suitability as a viable propulsion option for next generation of cruise missiles. This paper details the concurrent computer aided design, engineering, and manufacturing of the carbon fiber/epoxy propfan blades as the NASA Lewis Research Center.
Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing of Composite Propfan Blades for a Cruise Missile Wind Tunnel Model
1992
66 pages
Report
No indication
English
Missile Technology , Composite Materials , Jet & Gas Turbine Engines , Test Facilities & Equipment , Composite structures , Computer aided design , Computer aided manufacturing , Cruise missiles , Prop-fan technology , Propeller fans , Wind tunnel models , Wind tunnel tests , Epoxy matrix composites , Fiber composites , Carbon fibers , Counter rotation , Templates