Boundary layer ingestion technologies for future aircraft systems

The project shall investigate ‘Boundary Layer Ingestion’ (BLI) technology as a means to improve aircraft performance.  Although BLI technologies have potential benefit, a key challenge is in understanding if a net benefit to overall aircraft performance can be achieved given the increased complexity of the overall aircraft system and the additional advances in key enabling technologies required if this benefit is to be realised. The viability of such an approach also strongly depends on the integration of the propulsion systems with the airframe. The focus of this project will be to address the key aerodynamic and propulsion aspects of BLI in the context of the overall aircraft operation. The aim of the project is to develop a robust methodology to assess the potential benefits of BLI technology at the aircraft concept phase.  Principally this will involve developing the appropriate models to represent the impact of BLI on aircraft performance. The work will encompass 3D computational fluid dynamic studies as well as the development of reduced order models to assess the aerodynamic impact of BLI flow distortion on the propulsion system. The overall aim will be to incorporate aerodynamic and propulsion models into an aircraft performance tool and make an assessment of the potential benefit of BLI on future aircraft performance.