A SUBLIME Completion

The SUBLIME (Supporting Understanding of BLI Model Experiment) consortium of ARA Ltd (Coordinator), University of Padua, HIT09, Chalmers University of Technology, and Cranfield University with SAFRAN as topic manager is pleased to announce the successful completion of the first test entry in the ARA Transonic Wind Tunnel.

This testing comprised detailed drag measurements of multiple aft-fuselage propulsor integration concepts. In addition to this, high-resolution wake deficit total pressure measurements and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) were used to assess the off-body flowfield around the model.

Figure 1 — PIV light sheet formed on the BLI180 concept aft-fuselage. Traversable wake rake visible behind the model.

Over the course of the entry, 3 aft-fuselage concepts were trialled including full azimuth and twin engine concepts. This generated a large database, which will be used to assess the potential benefits of the designs as well as validating CFD simulations which have been running in parallel to the test programme. ARA looks forward to continued collaboration for the upcoming, powered second entry and the subsequent data analysis and dissemination stages.

Figure 2 — ARA team members alongside the BLI180 concept (post oil flow run). Traversable wake rake visible behind the model.

This project has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 864803. For further information please contact business@ara.co.uk.

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