A DERIVATION OF GROSS THRUST FOR A SEA-LEVEL JET ENGINE TEST CELL

For accurate, indoor ground-level testing of jet engines, the influence of the test cell on the thrust produced by the engine must be established. The "true" gross thrust may be derived from the measured scale force, if the aerodynamic conditions inside the test cell are known. The "test cell effect" may also be quantified using correlation factors determined from comparison of test data taken from indoor facilities, and reference outdoor or "free-air" test stands. In this report, the influence of the test cell on engine performance is described. The forces measured in a particular indoor test cell are derived, and a comparison of actual test data from an indoor test cell to an outdoor test stand is made. The results show that if all the aerodynamic forces have been accounted for, which in this case require corrections of up to 2%, the corrected thrust in an indoor cell is the "true" gross thrust.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Research Council of Canada

  Division of Mechanical Engineering, Montreal Road
  Ottawa, ONo K1A 0R6,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • MacLeod, J D
• Publication Date: 1988-9

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 81 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Aerodynamics; Engine performance; Jet engines; Testing; Thrust
• Old TRIS Terms: Test cell
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488762
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DM-009, NRC No. 30165
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1989 12:00AM