Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
12-2015
Primary Advisor
Eileen Rossman
Abstract/Summary
At high flight altitudes and speeds, external airplane elements are subject to immense loads. External devices must be put through testing that simulates these loads to ensure safety of the device. Our system will subject a device in need of testing to a jet of air, similar to wind seen on the surface of an airplane. The High Speed Air Jet Turbine Test project team has been tasked to design, build, and test an apparatus capable of acquiring real world flight data for micro-ram air turbines (microRAT). The micro-RAT is a device that provides power to an electrical device by converting the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. Currently the Cal Poly BLDS (Boundary Layer Development System) team has designed and is in the process of testing a micro-RAT to power an electronic BLDS on an airplane wing. Boundary layer development systems are used to gather flow data over airplane wings using various Pitot-static tubes. The apparatus will accurately measure thrust due to wind loads as well as torque developed by the rotor.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/296