Composite UHBR Fan for Forced Response and Flutter Investigations

Abstract

In the CA3ViAR (Composite fan Aerodynamic, Aeroelastic, and Aeroacoustic Validation Rig) project, a composite low-transonic fan is designed and tested. The aim is a scaled ultra-high bypass ratio (UHBR) fan with state-of-the-art aerodynamic performance and composite rotor blades, which features aeroelastic phenomena, e.g. forced response by inlet distortions and flutter, under certain operating points within the wind tunnel. In this paper, the aerodynamic and aeroelastic design process starting from the overall performance specifications to a threedimensional numerical model is described. A target of eigen-frequency and twist-to-plunge ratio is specified such that flutter occurs at desired operating conditions with a sufficient margin with respect to the working line. Different materials and layups of the composite blade are analyzed to reach the structural target. The fan should serve as an open test case to advance the future research on aerodynamic, aeroelastic, and aeroacoustic performance investigations in a wide range of operating conditions. A preliminary fan stage design is presented in this paper.