NASA SBIR 2010 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Combustion Research and Flow Technology
6210 Keller's Church Road
Pipersville, PA 18947 - 1020
(215) 766-1520

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Neeraj Sinha
sinha@craft-tech.com
6210 Keller's Church Rd.
Pipersville, PA 18947 - 1020
(215) 766-1520 Extension :16

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 2
End: 4

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
The proposed SBIR Phase I & II programs will lead to the validation of a state-of-the-art Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model, coupled with a Ffowcs-Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) farfield acoustic solver, for supporting the development of advanced engine concepts, including innovative flow control strategies for attenuation of their jet noise emissions. The LES/FW-H model will be simultaneously validated against matched sets of flowfield and companion acoustic data acquired recently at NASA/GRC for round nozzles. The flowfield validation will include detailed comparisons against imagery, mean flow measurements and turbulence statistics. The end-to-end capability of the LES/FW-H noise prediction model will also be demonstrated by applying it to high aspect-ratio rectangular nozzle designs, proposed for testing at NASA GRC under the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. This critical validation will provide the foundation for proceeding to application of this innovative methodology in supporting the design and optimization of control concepts, e.g. chevrons, slot jets, fluidic chevrons, etc., as well as ultimately performing predictions of noise emissions from full-scale, realistic nozzles with complex exhaust flowpaths, airframe/propulsive jet interactions, etc.

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
The research proposed is of direct relevance to NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program, with its focus on development of supersonic commercial flight, while meeting current and future noise certification levels. In parallel with airframe design for supersonic flight, advanced propulsion concepts are also under development, with non-axisymmetric, rectangular nozzle designs that incorporate noise control concepts. The engines that will be used with these aircrafts require significant advances in noise control technology an undertaking for which high-fidelity LES modeling will prove crucial in providing insight into physics and also complementing laboratory tests. The validated model will support NASA's upcoming tests of scale-model single or dual rectangular nozzles, as well as nozzles with chevrons and bevels. The same high-aspect ratio rectangular nozzles are also of interest to the Subsonic Fixed Wing Project.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
The proposed research is directly applicable to the US Navy's development of noise suppression technology for the F/A-18 E/F and JSF/F-35B programs. The F/A-18 E/F program office is currently engaged in development of retrofits for the General Electric F414-400 engine that entail the replacement of their nozzle seals with a new design of seals which feature chevron extensions at the trailing-edge. Comparable modifications are also being considered for the General Electric F404-400 engine for the F/A-18 C/D aircraft. Over the longer-term, the Navy's focus is shifting towards advanced suppressions concepts beyond chevrons, etc. for next-generation propulsion systems, where high-fidelity modeling will be crucial in supporting technology development. The proposed technology also has applicability in the automobile industry. Although significant resources are being spent in reducing noise from vortex shedding from side-view mirrors, the efforts are presently hindered by the absence of high fidelity predictive tools.

TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING (NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.)

Aerodynamics Data Modeling (see also Testing & Evaluation) Simulation & Modeling