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Aeronautics

Our work advances propulsion for aircraft while reducing energy consumption, noise, emissions and the cost of air travel. We are committed to investigating the use of alternative energy sources and improving the safety and expediency of flight.

Large-Scale Swept Wing Model in the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel
Ice accreted on a Large-Scale Swept Wing Model in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel.

Icing Research

NASA’s icing research involves the development of tools and methods for evaluating and simulating the growth of ice on current and future aircraft surfaces or inside the engines and the effects that ice may have on the behavior of aircraft in flight.

Artist rendering of the SUSAN aircraft concept taking off
Credits: NASA

Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP)

NASA Glenn’s research in Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) offers new possibilities for reducing fuel and energy usage in aviation. Innovative technologies, aircraft concepts, test aircraft, and ground test facilities will turn this vision of efficient flight from science fiction to reality.

Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC)

Accelerate development and demonstration of advanced turbine engine technologies in a high-power-density core to enable next-generation commercial transport aircraft.

Boundary Layer Ingestion testing in NASA Glenn 8'x6' wind tunnel.
Boundary Layer Ingestion propulsion concept undergoing high-speed testing in the NASA Glenn 8’x6’ wind tunnel.   Credits: Dave Arend/NASA

Boundary Layer Ingestion Propulsion

The aviation industry has made tremendous strides in increasing the efficiency of today’s aircraft, especially by significantly reducing the fuel consumption of the aircraft engines. NASA’s Glenn Research Center is working on propulsion technology to increase the fuel efficiency of future aircraft even more, reducing the overall cost to consumers and the impact on the … Read the rest ⇢

X-59 QueSST Acoustics featured image

Acoustics Research

Our vision is to help increase the peace and quiet in the world by serving as a leader in aircraft engine noise reduction research


The Future of Aviation: Quieter. Cleaner. Faster. (music only)
Credits: NASA

What We’re Working On

NASA-PW Small Core Concept Compressor
High Speed Test


Testing of the P&W High Speed Rig 1 design was completed in May 2019. Testing included two clearances: a “nominal” liner with scaled engine design clearances, and an “open” liner, where the clearance over the third stage rotor was increased to assess the impact of larger clearance on the 4-stage compressor block operability and performance and validate CFD. Results show greater than predicted stall margin for both clearance configurations at all three investigated speeds. The intent is to use the learnings from this first W7 rig and the low speed rig in W1 to trade stall margin for increased efficiency in a second W7 rig to be tested in FY20.

Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT)
NASA-UTRC Small Core Combustor Test


NASA and United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) Collaboration, Advanced Air Transport Technology Project, Small Core Combustor Test (CE-5) 2018. This work is under the scope of the “Compact Gas Turbine (CGT)” subproject of the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) Project. This is the first time an axially-staged single sector combustor has been installed and tested in CE-5, and the first time two traversing gas probes were used to map the exhaust gas profile. Test results indicate that the advanced combustor concept shows potential to meet/exceed NASA’s goal of reducing landing and takeoff NOx emissions by more than 80% below CAEP6 requirement.

Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT)
Compact Gas Turbine (CGT)


Testing of rear stages of a compressor representing features of reduced core size in low speed rig at NASA Glenn Research Center. This work is under the scope of the “Compact Gas Turbine (CGT)” subproject of the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) Project and is a collaboration with Pratt & Whitney. The W-1A Team won the 2018 Craftmanship Award for Assembly & Build-up Technologies for their superior workmanship in support for this test.

Expertise

  • Engine cycles
  • Advanced propulsion systems
  • Component improvements
  • Controls and dynamics
  • Harsh environment sensors
  • Electronics
  • Instrumentation
  • Health monitoring and management
  • Materials and structures
  • Power extraction and management
  • Icing
  • Fuels and propellants
  • Acoustics
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Heat transfer
  • Aerothermodynamics and plasmas
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