BLADE-UK Development and qualification of a structural concept for a large transport aircraft low drag, natural laminar flow wing for large scale flight testing

物体上方的气流可以被描述为湍流或层流。层流应用于飞机具有减少阻力和燃料消耗的好处，从而减少了飞机的碳足迹。几十年来，机翼上广泛层流的实际成就一直是空气动力学家的“圣杯”。作为欧洲“清洁天空”计划的一部分，一架高速演示机开发了一种展示层流（被动）的机翼结构。由此，欧洲突破性层流飞机验证机（BLADE）项目诞生了。该计划的范围是设计、开发、制造和组装一个全新的10米层流机翼部分，并将其组装到340 MSN001飞行测试飞机上。该项目有7个合作伙伴——ASCO、GKN、INCAS、达索、萨博、AERNNOVA和空客。空客内部来自德国、法国、西班牙和英国的工程师都将为该项目做出贡献。除了承担一些具体的设计工作外，位于Filton的一个小工程师团队还负责协调和整合所有合作伙伴的活动。许多工作已经完成，结构概念已经确定，制造和工程开发测试正在进行中。新机翼部分的具体系统安装已经重新定义，并提供了广泛的飞行测试仪器。部件和装配工具已经开始，碳纤维增强塑料上盖的工具已经完成。下一阶段的研发将包括进一步的部件测试和冻结上翼罩的设计。按照目前的进度，整个层流翼部分将于2016年底完成，为飞行测试做好准备。当飞行测试完成后，飞机必须恢复到原来的结构和系统配置。如果项目成功，实现了实际的层流，那么Filton工程团队将为未来飞机的空气动力学做出重大贡献。该提案涵盖了空客在英国的研发活动，以验证特定自然层流翼（NLF翼）结构概念的设计和开发，包括机翼关键部件的制造、组装和测试。部件的几何尺寸应与飞行试验的尺寸相近或相等，物理尺寸、应力承载能力要求和公差应符合适航机翼的要求。

Airflow over an object can be described as either turbulent or laminar. Laminar flow as applied to an aircraft has the benefit of reducing drag and hence fuel consumption which in turn reduces the carbon footprint of the aircraft. Practical achievement of extensive laminar flow on a wing has been a ‘holy grail’ for aerodynamicists for decades.As part of the European ‘Clean Sky’ initiative a high speed demonstrator developing a wing structure that exhibits laminar flow (passive) was authorised. From this the BLADE (Breakthrough Laminar flow Aircraft Demonstrator Europe) programme was born. The scope of the programme was to design, develop, manufacture and assemble a completely new 10 metre laminar section of wing and assemble this to the 340 MSN001 flight test aircraft. There are 7 partners in this programme – ASCO, GKN, INCAS, DASSAULT, SAAB, AERNNOVA and AIRBUS. Within Airbus engineers from Germany, France, Spain and the UK will all contribute to this programme. A small team of engineers based at Filton coordinate and integrate the activities of all the partners in addition to undertaking some of the specific design work. Much work has already been accomplished, with structural concepts defined and with manufacturing and engineering development tests underway.Specific system installations for the new wing section have been redefined and extensive flight test instrumentation has been catered for. Component and assembly tooling has commenced with the tools for the carbon fibre reinforced plastic upper covers already completed. The next stage of development will involve further component testing and the freezing of the design of the upper wing covers. The current schedule is leading to the completion of the full laminar wing section to be ready for the flight testing in late 2016.30 BLADE-UK applicant 263214The flight tests should be complete in 2017. When the flight tests are complete the aircraft has to be returned to its original structural and systems configurations. If the project is successful, and practical laminar flow achieved, then the Filton engineering team will have contributed to a significant step change in the aerodynamics of aircraft for the future.The proposal presented here covers Airbus in the UK’s R&T activities to validate the design and development of a specific Natural Laminar Flow wing (NLF wing) structural concept, including manufacturing, assembly and testing of critical components of the wing. The geometrical dimensions of the components shall be of size similar or equal relevant for the flight test, the physical sizing, requirements with respect to stress specifically load carrying capability and the tolerances shall meet the requirements of the flight worthy wing.