“The new engine will be designed using advanced tools and methods in order to leverage advanced computational designs. The eventual FCAS powerplant will incorporate embedded starter-generators that eliminate the need for conventional accessory gearboxes, using magnets that are fused to the shaft of the engine, converting kinetic energy to electrical energy and generating electrical power from the heart of the engine.
It will also make extensive use of advanced materials including ceramics, composite materials, and metal matrix materials with reinforced titanium to confer a step-change in thrust-to-weight ratio. Conrad Banks, Rolls Royce’s Chief Engineer for Future Defence Programmes estimated that by using composite fibre reinforcement of titanium, a compressor ‘wheel’ could be produced at half the current weight, because the strength increase is so great.
Additive layer manufacturing, 3D manufacturing with advanced materials, promises to allow the introduction of cooling structures that would previously have been impossible further reducing the weight, and further increasing the efficiency of the gas turbine.
Because they will be located behind potentially quite convuluted intakes (in order to remove the line of sight from the gas turbine) the new engines will feature distortion-tolerant fan systems. They will also feature a fully-integrated thermal management system, perhaps using a variable bypass to reduce specific fuel consumption, and perhaps using large ducts or pipes on the side of the engine to deliver bleed cooling air for the vehicle and for the gas turbine.”
@messiach
From a report on the tempest.
All it takes is picking up ideas and following up on them. If only the right channels are listening
