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25 Feb 16. GKN Aerospace delivers rotating frames for Clean Sky open rotor engine. GKN Aerospace has delivered the two rotating frames for a major research programme exploring open rotor aero-engine designs and with the goal of achieving a 20%* reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Open Rotor engine project is part of the Clean Sky** Sustainable and Green Engines (SAGE) programme, a 50% European Union-funded, multi-partner activity aimed at lowering fuel consumption and emissions through more efficient aero-engine architectures.
The company has delivered the front and aft rotating frames for the SAGE2 Open Rotor demonstrator engine to Snecma S.A. These rotating frames act as hubs for the two rows of propellers and are located in the propulsor module at the rear of the engine. In total the company will deliver 27 individual parts for these rotating frame modules. GKN Aerospace deliveries will be completed by the end of February in preparation for engine assembly and testing at the Snecma test centre in Istre, France. The test programme is scheduled to complete this year.
Henrik Runnemalm, Vice President, Research and Technology at GKN Aerospace Engine Systems said: “The challenge with the design and manufacture of rotating frames lies in the fact that they have the geometric complexity of a traditional static turbine structure but, because they rotate and transfer torque to the propellers they are safety critical parts with quality requirements, stress concentrations and load paths that are completely different to current static frame designs.”
Runnemalm continues: “We have applied a number of novel, precision manufacturing technologies – including new welding and machining techniques – to produce these structures and have evolved new non-destructive inspection methods which will inspect these complex geometries to the level required for critical rotating parts. Throughout this development programme we have worked closely with the Swedish manufacturing technology centre, (Produktionstekniskt Centrum – PTC), at Innovatum in Trollhättan as well as a number of smaller, highly specialised Swedish companies.”
24 Feb 16. DoD Officials Urge Continued Science, Technology Investments. Investments in science and technology are critical in maintaining the nation’s military edge in an increasingly competitive global arena, Defense Department officials told Congress today.
The United States is at a “pivotal moment in history” where investments in military technology are being made by “increasingly capable and assertive foreign powers,” Stephen Welby, the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, told the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities.
Welby appeared at the hearing to discuss defense innovation to create the future military force. Other witnesses included Arati Prabhakar, the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.
The United States is still the largest investor in research and development around the world, Prabhakar said in her written statement. “But unlike past decades, we are not alone in our excellent scientific and technical capabilities,” she added.
Keeping the Edge, Meeting Future Challenges
The challenge at DARPA and DoD is to create a “significant advantage for military and national security purposes against this competitive, shifting backdrop,” Prabhakar told the panel.
“Our senior military and civilian leaders face a world of kaleidoscopic uncertainty today and into any foreseeable future,” she said. “The daily fare is a noxious stew of violent extremism, terrorism and cross-border criminal activity.”
Welby said the goal of sustaining and advancing the nation’s technological superiority in the current national security environment requires investments in sound resea