​Seminar on State-of-art Computational Aeroelasticity Methods

The aim of this presentation is to show the state-of-art computational aeroelasticity methods which are available for analyzing fan blades on modern civil aircraft. Fan blades in the modern high bypass aero-engine typically produce around 80% of an aero-engine thrust. In order to improve specific fuel consumption and to reduce the level of noise emitted from the engine, civil turbofan engine designs are moving toward even larger fan diameters, and hence the importance of this component of aero-engine becomes even more prominent.  As the fan (and hence intake) diameter increases, shorter intakes are required to reduce the overall weight and drag of the aircraft. As a result of shorter intakes, the fan and the intake will become closely coupled and hence the effects of inlet distortions, such as crosswind, will become more important on the fan stability. The presentation will include flutter, forced response, buffeting and stall driven events.

Professor Vahdati is the Principal Research Fellow in the Dynamics Group, and leads the Aeroelasticity Group in the Vibration University Technology Centre sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc. His main research focus is the development of CFD algorithms, modelling fan blade flutter, turbine and compressor forced response, stall and surge modelling, and aeroacoustic and aeroelastic phenomena. In practice, one of the main reasons for turbomachinery failure is vibration, and our work is directly relevant to industry. Through modelling the behaviour and mitigating causes of engine failures, leads to substantial increases in safety and reliability, provides energy-efficient environmental friendly benefits and major costs savings. In 2001, he was awarded by Rolls-Royce plc the title Rolls-Royce Research Fellow at Imperial College, in recognition for his contributions to the company.​