Aircraft engine manufacturers are developing a new generation of turboprop, offering lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than current engines. This leads to develop a new and specific suspension system, which is the aim of the EVIS (Engine Vibration Isolation System) project.
The main objective is to develop an improved engine mounting system in terms of technology and associated processes, enabling a high level of comfort for passengers. Cost and weight reductions compared to existing engine mounting systems will also form part of the work.
In order to meet the project’s main goal, the following sub-objectives had to be reached:
- Establishing a technical specifications of the new EVIS;
- Developing all-new engine mount for afterward section and Customizing existing engine mounts for forward section;
- Analyzing ground test campaign results to enable EVIS design optimization if required for a potential next phase (such as flight test);
An important milestone has been reached with the delivery of the EVIS to the engine manufacturer and its installation of the ground test bench, in June 2019. The engine ground test campaign was completed in 2021 on TechTP.
The feedback of this test campaign was that the EVIS behaved perfectly, and the vibration attenuation levels reached the expected results!
EVIS has therefore achieved all its goals: supplying an improved, lighter, and cost effective engine mounting system.
In addition, a specific solution has been successfully developed for the project due to the severe thermal environment around the afterward isolator.
The EVIS project was coordinated by Hutchinson Worldwide (Barry Controls Aerospace) and benefited from €: 67,901.87 in EU funding.
The next step will be to perform a fly test campaign with the new EVIS. Hutchinson will propose this new technology to the aircraft manufacturers for the next generation of flying platforms.