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Knowledge-Based Multi-Diciplinary Optimization of Rocket Turbopump Design

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9300-05-C-0018
Agency Tracking Number: F041-199-1332
Amount: $1,049,400.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF04-199
Solicitation Number: 2004.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-09-30
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-03-31
Small Business Information
217 Billings Farm Road
White River Jct, VT 05001
United States
DUNS: 024355802
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Michael Platt
 Principal Investigator
 (802) 296-2321
 mjp@conceptsnrec.com
Business Contact
 Harold Keiling
Title: Executive Vice President/
Phone: (802) 296-2321
Email: hak@conceptsnrec.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The design of turbomachinery components is a complex process requiring many steps and hundreds of minute decisions in an iterative process. The design proceeds from engine cycle performance and meanline design through 3D viscous flow calculations (CFD) and finite element structural analysis (FEA). Design studies may traverse this process many times, with routine tasks performed by engineers in a trial-and-error manner. The current turbomachinery design system integrates the initial meanline design considerations, the details of sophisticated blade design, modern CFD analysis, and structural and thermo-mechanical FEA. Some knowledge-based engineering (KBE) aspects are applied to guide the initial design setup in directions of proven design techniques, and historical design and performance data is used to validate and calibrate the design tools. In addition, the iSIGHT optimization code is currently used to refine the specific vane shapes. In the proposed work, KBE and multi-disciplinary optimization (MDO) will be employed to improve the turbomachinery design process by capturing critical design knowledge, automating routine design tasks, and optimizing the balance between conflicting design goals and criteria. The open and extensible design system will use KBE to guide the engineer in performing design modifications, exploring trade studies, applying design criteria, and performing MDO.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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