Rolls-Royce Holdings

About: Rolls-Royce Holdings is a company organization based out in Derby, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Turbine & Gas compressor. The organization has 4027 authors who have published 6305 publications receiving 80517 citations. The organization is also known as: Rolls-Royce Holdings plc.

Real-Time Kinematics of Continuum Robots: Modelling and Validation

Abstract: Kinematics of flexible backbone continuum robots is highly non linear and its complexity quickly escalates with the number of sections of the robot, which is usually more than three. This paper introduces a kinematic modelling of actuation and configuration spaces that greatly simplifies the computational requirements compared to the commonly used Piecewise Constant Curvature Kinematics which results in a faster algorithm at a rate proportional to the number of sections. This new algorithm is firstly developed for Twin Pivot Compliant Joint continuum robots but then extended to a general single neutral axis backbone configuration, both achieving a very low error of approximation (0.7% for the prototype developed), which results in several advantages such as the avoidance of highly non-linear functions and singularities, great reduction of computational complexity and an user-friendly graphical representation to help operation and status monitoring of this kind of robots. Moreover, a slender, small diameter and hyper-redundant (175 mm length, 6 mm diameter, 10 Degrees of Freedom) continuum robot prototype is developed and tested in a real-case industrial application for inspection and repair of aero engines in order to validate the proposed model.

Microstructural evolution of a delta containing nickel-base superalloy during heat treatment and isothermal forging

Abstract: The next generation of aerospace gas turbine engines need to operate at higher temperatures and stresses to improve their efficiency and reduce emissions. These operating conditions are beyond the capability of existing nickel-base superalloys, requiring the development of new high temperature materials. Controlling the microstructures of these new materials is key to obtaining the required properties and, therefore, it is critical to understand how these alloys respond to processing and heat treatment. Here, the microstructural evolution of V207M, a new δ containing, nickel-base superalloy, has been investigated following heat treatment and forging. The solvus temperatures of the γ′ and δ phases, determined by differential scanning calorimetry and microscopy, were found to be ~985 and ~1060 °C respectively. Isothermal forging of the alloy was conducted at 1000, 1050 and 1100 °C, corresponding to different volume fractions of retained δ. Considerable softening was observed prior to steady state flow when forging at 1000 °C, whilst only steady state flow occurred at 1050 and 1100 °C. The steady state flow process was believed to be dominated by dynamic recovery in the γ phase, with an activation energy of 407 kJmol −1 . Samples that exhibited flow softening also showed a significant change in the orientation of the δ precipitates, preferentially aligning normal to the forging axis, and this reorientation was thought to be the cause of the observed flow softening.

Gas turbine engine thrust reverser

Abstract: A ducted fan gas turbine engine is provided with a fan cowling member made up of a static portion and an axially translatable portion. A plurality of rails interconnect the first and second cowling member portions and carry a generally annular array of airflow deflector vanes. The deflector vanes are normally stowed in stacked relationship when the cowling portions are contiguous but are equally axially spaced apart to define a fan air flow thrust reverser when the second cowling portion has been translated to a position downstream of the first cowling portion.