The ARA large scale thrust measuring rig

Abstract

The Large Scale Thrust Measuring Rig (LSTMR) which is installed at the Aircraft Research Association's site at Bedford, England, is a twin stream facility capable of supplying the separate Core and Bypass (Fan) flows to typical engine nozzle/after body models. The rig, which is able to be operated with either cold or hot core flow, provides the means of assessing the performance of single or twin stream nozzle configurations in terms of nozzle discharge and thrust characteristics. Models of jet engine nozzles at typically 1/7 to 1/10 scale can be tested in both forward and reverse thrust modes with mass flows of up to 12 Kg/s (26 lb/s) (Fan) and 5 Kg/s (11 lb/s) (Core) and with core temperatures of up to 600/spl deg/C (1100/spl deg/F). The LSTMR provides the Aircraft Research Association with a test facility that is unique in Europe and which is capable of producing the high quality test results required by the various customers. As such it enhances ARA's capabilities for discharge and thrust measuring facilities by supplementing the two existing Mach Simulation Tanks (MSTI and 2) which are also used for nozzle calibrations. The paper highlights the main features of the rig and discusses in detail the various control and measurement systems that are necessary to provide consistent high quality data.