Discoveries in the Making
The virtual engine that could
Making the next generation of gas turbine jet engines more energy efficient and environmentally friendly is an expensive proposition, calling for the limited production of components to build prototypes that simply might not work. For just that reason, mechanical engineering Professor Stavros Tavoularis has been refining a virtual engine that could yield similar test results at far less cost. He is conducting extensive three-dimensional computer simulations, based on a complex mathematical description of the air flow and gas combustion that takes place within this kind of engine. The resulting model can be fine-tuned simply by altering some of the many parameters in different software programs, rather than having to construct physical parts from scratch. Supported by the giant aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, this work promises to make the evolution of aircraft engine design much more efficient.
Stavros Tavoularis, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Tel: 613-562-5800 x 6271
E-mail: tav@eng.uOttawa.ca
June 5 is World Environment Day.