Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Université de Sherbrooke
$100,000.00
Magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) characterization, optimization and condition monitoring for aircraft flight control actuators
FY 2017-18
Summary
The aerospace industry is facing political, social, and economic pressure to develop cleaner and lighter aircraftsmade from environmentally friendly materials and using energy efficient technologies. One key technology is the development of Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA) to replace conventional hydraulic actuators for flight control surfaces. The main issue in developing practical EMAs for flight control is reliability as traditional gears and screw mechanisms can seize and lead to catastrophic failures. A first NSERC-CRIAQ project (ENV404) demonstrated that MagnetoRheological Fluid (MRF) rotary clutches for Continuous Slippage Actuation (CSA) can advantageously meet aerospace motion control requirements with their high control bandwidth, high power-to-weight ratios, and high reliability. The goal of this new NSERC-CRIAQ-CARIC project proposal (ENV709) is to provide the knowledge and understanding required to enable practical applications of MRF actuators for helicopter flight control applications. The most prominent remaining challenge is the durability of MRF and the design of optimal clutches. The proposed research will conduct an in-depth experimental characterization of the degradation of MRF. Fluids will be analyzed and the degradation process identified and quantified. Based on findings, improved MRF and clutch designs will be proposed and verified. Condition monitoring strategies will be proposed and a MRF condition monitoring sensor technology will be developed. Finally, a fully functional MRF actuator will be prototyped for a typical flight control application and the actuator will be tested on a full-scale endurance test bench replicating flight test conditions. The research will advance the field of aerospace and robotics by providing the knowledge necessary to complete the development of a new promising actuation technology, MRF rotary clutches used in CSA. Theresearch will provide Canadian aerospace industry with proprietary new technology that will become a strategicasset for Canada's competitiveness in the aerospace sector.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
471265-2014
Name nom
Plante, JeanSebastien
Department département
Génie mécanique
Organization id
68
Institution établissement
Université de Sherbrooke
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
100000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
703
Area of application group en
Transportation systems and services
Area of application group fr
Services et systèmes de transport
Area of application en
Aerospace
Area of application fr
Aérospatial
Research subject code
2108
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Aerospace, aeronautical and automotive engineering
Research subject fr
Génie aérospatial, aéronautique et automobile
Partie
3
Nb partie
4
Application title
Magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) characterization, optimization and condition monitoring for aircraft flight control actuators
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The aerospace industry is facing political, social, and economic pressure to develop cleaner and lighter aircraftsmade from environmentally friendly materials and using energy efficient technologies. One key technology is the development of Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA) to replace conventional hydraulic actuators for flight control surfaces. The main issue in developing practical EMAs for flight control is reliability as traditional gears and screw mechanisms can seize and lead to catastrophic failures. A first NSERC-CRIAQ project (ENV404) demonstrated that MagnetoRheological Fluid (MRF) rotary clutches for Continuous Slippage Actuation (CSA) can advantageously meet aerospace motion control requirements with their high control bandwidth, high power-to-weight ratios, and high reliability. The goal of this new NSERC-CRIAQ-CARIC project proposal (ENV709) is to provide the knowledge and understanding required to enable practical applications of MRF actuators for helicopter flight control applications. The most prominent remaining challenge is the durability of MRF and the design of optimal clutches. The proposed research will conduct an in-depth experimental characterization of the degradation of MRF. Fluids will be analyzed and the degradation process identified and quantified. Based on findings, improved MRF and clutch designs will be proposed and verified. Condition monitoring strategies will be proposed and a MRF condition monitoring sensor technology will be developed. Finally, a fully functional MRF actuator will be prototyped for a typical flight control application and the actuator will be tested on a full-scale endurance test bench replicating flight test conditions. The research will advance the field of aerospace and robotics by providing the knowledge necessary to complete the development of a new promising actuation technology, MRF rotary clutches used in CSA. Theresearch will provide Canadian aerospace industry with proprietary new technology that will become a strategicasset for Canada's competitiveness in the aerospace sector.
