Uni Project Idea

How about a better method of brake cooling after an RTO or even a long taxi – if temps get too high then the only option is to wait and possibly cause a delay. (I think Airbus has fans as an option but it does not come cheap + the usual weight penalty)

Parking sensors for the ground handling vehicles – how often are aircraft damaged because of a misjudgement by a driver. They are fitted to a lot of cars so it should be possible for them to be fitted to catering / de -icing and or fuel trucks.

I’d prefer a civil based project, but it doesn’t have to be no.

Does this project have to be Civil ?

I’ve just had a look at a few of your other MAN pictures on Airliners.net.

They bring back some memories, I can tell you! :D:D:D

Braking ‘chutes weren’t restricted to airliners from the Soviet Union.

The Sud Aviation Caravelle had a tail ‘chute and I remember seeing it deployed at MAN on more than one occasion in the days of my youth.

Here’s an Air France Caravelle using the chute at MAN in 1969:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0716050/M/

Braking ‘chutes weren’t restricted to airliners from the Soviet Union.

The Sud Aviation Caravelle had a tail ‘chute and I remember seeing it deployed at MAN on more than one occasion in the days of my youth.

Sounds a little bit extreme sadly exmpa but great suggestion. I have little programming knowledge and to get anything to degree standard within 6 months I think is asking alot.

On modern airliners the use of autobrake systems is encouraged because of reduction in break wear and improved passenger comfort. Current systems operate by providing a number of predetermined decelleration rates. With ever rising levels of air traffic there is pressure to increase flow rates and achieving minimum runway occupancy times after landing is an integral element of this strategy. Unfortunately the runway exits are not always in the optimum positions or of the best configuration to achieve this objective (e.g. 90degree turn off must be taken slower than a 40degree exit). An autobrake system which could be programmed to provide a constant decelleration rate to the required exit speed for a specific exit could be a valuable tool in the quest for improved runway usage.

In short what I am suggesting is a “dial a landing distance” autobrake system which takes into account the type of turn off to negotiated. Now I am not suggesting that it is really a gap in the market which airlines will beat a path to your door to buy! But it is the kind of thing which might make a good project.

Airbus call this system “Brake to Vacate” and it was patented about 2-3years ago, and demonstrated on a flight test A/C about 12-18 months ago….. Not sure what’s the first aircraft for embodiment.

I need something that I can effectively research-analyse-design-test-analyse-conclude based on an aeronautical engineering subject.

OK how about this one:

On modern airliners the use of autobrake systems is encouraged because of reduction in break wear and improved passenger comfort. Current systems operate by providing a number of predetermined decelleration rates. With ever rising levels of air traffic there is pressure to increase flow rates and achieving minimum runway occupancy times after landing is an integral element of this strategy. Unfortunately the runway exits are not always in the optimum positions or of the best configuration to achieve this objective (e.g. 90degree turn off must be taken slower than a 40degree exit). An autobrake system which could be programmed to provide a constant decelleration rate to the required exit speed for a specific exit could be a valuable tool in the quest for improved runway usage.

In short what I am suggesting is a “dial a landing distance” autobrake system which takes into account the type of turn off to negotiated. Now I am not suggesting that it is really a gap in the market which airlines will beat a path to your door to buy! But it is the kind of thing which might make a good project.

exmpa

Ok thanks for that, so its a silly idea. Back to the drawing board! I need something that I can effectively research-analyse-design-test-analyse-conclude based on an aeronautical engineering subject.

The Tail Brake Chute (TBC) was a product of its time. In the 1960’s military aircraft in particular were operating with total energy values which were close to the limits of the braking systems available. The addition of the TBC increased the safety margins for takeoff and landing but routine operation was never based upon the serviceability of the TBC in the same way that current philosophy does not assume any reverse thrust on a rejected takeoff or normal landing. So, the TBC would always be a “bolt on goody” and could not be used to provide ehanced takeoff or landing performance.

To go back to your original proposal, its use solely as an emergency stopping device. Landing performance is calculated with a number of safety margins included, reported headwind component is factored down and tailwinds are factored up, landings are presumed to be made in a “touchdown zone” and not at specific point, allowance is made for some speed deviation over the runway threshold. So there is a good deal of margin already built in, but as we have seen this does not cater for the gross excedeance cases. When deciding the worth of fitting a TBC you would have to assess rate of gross excedeance incidents and show that the your system would be of positive benefit. Problems you would have (in no particular order):

A. Weight penalty, not just of the installation itself but the additional structure to cope with the deployment forces.

B. Cost, not only purchase and provision but in service maintainance.

C. Operational factors, reduction in allowable crosswind component if use of TBC is predicated.

D. Aerodynamics, the TBC is a Zero Lift Drag (ZLD) device. Its effectiveness is greater at high speed (varies as Vsq)[Think of the Drag equation] so to get best effect is must be deployed as early as possible.

E. When and how are you going to decide to use it? For a TBC to be effective in an unpremeditated situation (viz, AF A340) you would require some kind of assessment of current decelleration/runway length remaining/remaining brake energy capacity. If a TBC was fitted and used late it is really of no greater benefit than not having one in the first place.

F. The brake energy capacity of modern aircraft is enormous. Modern carbon or ceramic brakes are incredibly efficient, so much so that is very unusual to find that Brake Energy is the limiting factor in a performance calculation.

Where does that leave things? Probably with the conclusion that fitting TBCs to modern airliners would only be of benefit in an extremely small number of cases. It is therefore probably more beneficial that any investment be made in systems which would ehnace safety in event of more frequent occurrences.

exmpa

Cracking points there, had considered the weight penalty about it all. This is what I need some other peoples views to see if its worthy pushing this idea. I’ve got all summer to come up with something!!

Would manufacturers really want to be adding all the weight for something that would only be used in an emergency. The only reason it would need to be developed would be if the regulatory authorities deemed it essential (like escape slides etc) and made it a legal requirement.

The use of a large parachute could also make any emergency worse in that it may cause ‘weather cocking’ and possible make the aircraft loose any directional control that it may have.