Abstract
This article briefly describes the concept of “smart” engine components and discusses various applications of this concept that are currently in the research phase. The interdisciplinary nature of smart engine research is then illustrated through a review of dynamic control of aerodynamic instabilities in gas turbine compression systems (rotating stall and surge). It has been demonstrated that these instabilities can be stabilized by active feedback control. Basic interdisciplinary questions have evolved based on this research, including identification of unsteady fluid mechanics, choosing suitable signals and wave launchers for implementing feedback, and enabling technologies for real-world control of engine components.
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