Development of a Turbine Engine Inlet Device for Protection Against Bird Ingestion

摘要

Studies were made to determine and evaluate a number of concepts for protecting turbine engines from damage as a result of bird ingestion. A variety of concepts are reviewed ranging from incorporation of bird tolerant engine designs to installation of deflector grills inside or in front of the engine inlet duct. Descriptive comments are presented for each of the concepts studied. Static load/deflection tests were performed with bird specimens to evaluate grill bar spacing strength requirements for use in later tests. Bird specimens were impacted on a bare grill at 15, 30, and 45 deg inclination to the bird path. A simulated installed protective grill was then fabricated and subjected to bird impacts. Empirical relationships for the load developed on the grill are developed, based upon bird weight, impact velocity, and grill inclination angle. Using the same grill design, tests were performed to evaluate the probable engine power losses associated with incorporation of the device into an airplane inlet duct. Subsequently, a flight test article was developed and submitted for further testing. Results indicate that incorporation of a protective device is feasible for any turbine engine powered aircraft, but that further work is required to determine the most satisfactory means for protecting a specific engine installation. (Author)