Reducing cost,time and risk in aero-engine compressor testing

Abstract

There is constant pressure to reduce engine development cycles to minimize costs and bring forward the revenue earning part of the engine's life. As cost and time are designed out, the risk of performance shortfall must be minimized by bidding efficiencies from demonstrated technology. This requires a large-scale ongoing advanced development program.

In compressor development, high-speed tests are unavoidable but are expensive; low-speed rigs are easier to instrument and provide a cost-effective filter for the high-speed designs. The large-scale, low- speed compressor at Cranfield is one of only four worldwide. Recent investment in data reduction software has greatly reduced the test/analysis cycle time.