Abstract

Aerospace design engineers are being pushed to invent greener and more efficient technologies. The next generation of turbofan engines aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions by improving propulsive efficiency. To achieve this, low fan pressure ratio, large-engine technology has been developed. These new fans require slimmer, sharper, and lower-drag intakes with reduced weight, which are at risk of boundary layer separation under aerodynamically challenging conditions. One particularly problematic condition is the crosswind encountered during runway operations. This talk presents a simplified experimental approach to studying the complex flow field that forms around a turbofan engine’s intake under strong crosswind conditions.