Technical Papers
Mar 15, 2013

Aircraft Turbine Engine Control Research at NASA Glenn Research Center

Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 2

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the aircraft turbine engine control research at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). A brief introduction to the engine control problem is first provided with a description of the state-of-the-art control law structure. A historical aspect of engine control development since the 1940s is then provided with a special emphasis on the contributions of GRC. With the increased emphasis on aircraft safety, enhanced performance, and affordability, as well as the need to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft, there are many new challenges being faced by the designers of aircraft propulsion systems. The Controls and Dynamics Branch (CDB) at the GRC is leading and participating in various projects to develop advanced propulsion controls and diagnostics technologies that will help meet the challenging goals of NASA Aeronautics Research Mission programs. The rest of the paper provides an overview of the various CDB technology development activities in aircraft engine control and diagnostics, both current and some accomplished in the recent past. The motivation for each of the research efforts, the research approach, technical challenges, and the key progress to date are summarized.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

Adibhatla, S., and Lewis, T. (1997). “Model-based intelligent digital engine control (MoBIDEC).” 97-3192, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Bright, M. M., et al. (1994). “Piloted evaluation of an integrated methodology for propulsion and airframe control design.” 94-3612, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Bright, M. M., et al. (1997). “Stall precursor identification in high-speed compressor stages using chaotic time series analysis methods.” J. Turbomach., 119(3), 491–499.
Burcham, F. W., et al. (1984). “Digital engine electronic control (DEEC) flight evaluation in an F–15 airplane.” CP-2298, NASA, Washington, DC.
Culley, D. E. (2010). “Transition in gas turbine control system architecture: Modular, distributed and embedded.” GT2010-23226, ASME, New York.
DeCastro, J. A., Litt, J. S., and Frederick, D. K. (2008). “A modular aero-propulsion system simulation of a large commercial aircraft engine.” 2008-4579, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
DeHoff, R. L., et al. (1977). “F100 multivariable control synthesis program—Volume I: Development of F100 control system.” TR-77-35, Air Force Aero Propulsion Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.
DeLaat, J. C., Kopasakis, G., Saus, J. R., and Chang, C. T. (2012). “Active combustion control for aircraft gas-turbine engines—experimental results for an advanced, low-emissions combustor prototype.” 2012-0783, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
DeLaat, J. C., and Paxson, D. E. (2008). “Characterization and simulation of the thermoacoustic instability behavior of an advanced, low emissions combustor prototype.” 2008-4878, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
DeLaat, J. C., Southwick, R. D., Gallops, G. W., and Orme, J. S. (1998). “High stability engine control (HISTEC): Flight demonstration results.” 985556, Society of Automotive Engineers International, Warrendale, PA.
Duyar, A., Guo, T.-H., Merrill, W. C., and Musgrave, J. (1992). “Implementation of a model based fault detection and diagnosis for actuation faults of the space shuttle main engine.” TM-105781, NASA, Washington, DC.
Frederick, D., Garg, S., and Adibhatla, S. (1996). “Turbofan engine control design using robust multivariable control technologies.” 96-2587, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Garg, S. (2010). “Propulsion controls and diagnostics research in support of NASA Aeronautics and Exploration Mission programs.” 2010-6747, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Garg, S., and Mattern, D. L. (1994). “Application of an integrated methodology for propulsion and airframe control design to a STOVL aircraft.” 94-3611, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Garg, S., Ouzts, P. J., Lorenzo, C. F., and Mattern, D. L. (1991). “IMPAC—An integrated methodology for propulsion and airframe control.” Proc., American Control Conf., American Automatic Control Council, Evanston, IL.
Garvin, R. V. (1998). Starting something big—The commercial emergence of GE aircraft engines, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Guo, T.-H., Chen, P., and Jaw, L. (2004). “Intelligent life-extending controls for aircraft engines.” 2004-6468, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Jaw, L. C., and Garg, S. (2003). “Propulsion control technology development in the U.S.—A historical perspective.” Int. Symp. on Air-Breathing Engines, International Society of Air Breathing Engines.
Jaw, L. C., and Mattingly, J. D. (2009). Aircraft engine controls: Design, system analysis and health monitoring, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Education Series, Reston, VA.
Ketchum, J. R., and Craig, R. T. (1952). “Simulation of linearized dynamics of gas-turbine engines.” TN-2826, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Washington, DC.
Kopasakis, G., and Connolly, J. (2009). “Shock positioning controls design for a supersonic inlet.” Proc., 45th Joint Propulsion Conf. and Exhibit, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Kopasakis, G., DeLaat, J. C., and Chang, C. T. (2004). “Validation of an adaptive combustion instability control method for gas-turbine engines.” 2004-4028, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Le, D. K., DeLaat, J. C., Chang, C. T., and Vrnak, D. R. (2005). “Model-based self-tuning multiscale method for combustion control.” 2005-3593, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Lehtinen, B., DeHoff, R. L., and Hackney, R. D. (1979). “Multivariable control altitude demonstration on the F100 turbofan engine.” 79-1204, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Litt, J. S., et al. (2004). “A survey of intelligent control and health management technologies for aircraft propulsion systems.” J. Aerospace Computing, Information and Comm., 1(12), 543–563.
Lorenzo, C. F., et al. (1992). “Life extending control for rocket engines.” TM-105789, NASA, Washington, DC.
Mattern, D. L., and Garg, S. (1992). “Propulsion system performance resulting from an integrated flight/propulsion control design.” 1992-4602, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Mattingly, J. D. (1996). Elements of gas turbine propulsion, McGraw Hill, New York.
May, R. D., Csank, J. T., Lavelle, T. M., Litt, J. S., and Guo, T.-H. (2010). “A high-fidelity simulation of a generic commercial aircraft engine and controller.” Proc., Joint Propulsion Conf., American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Melcher, K. (2011). “Optimal sensor selection and testability analysis technologies for fault management.” Proc., Presentation at the Commercial and Government Responsive Access to Space Technology Exchange, General Dynamics Information Technology, Dayton, OH.
Merrill, W. C., DeLaat, J. C., and Burton, W. (1988). “Advanced detection, isolation, and accommodation of sensor failures—Real-time evaluation.” J. Guidance Control Dynam., 11(6), 517–526.
Merrill, W. C., DeLaat, J. C., Kroszkewicz, S. M., and Abdelwahab, M. (1987). “Full-scale engine demonstration of an advanced sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation algorithm—Preliminary results.” 87–2259, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Otto, E. W., and Taylor, B. L., III. (1950). “Dynamics of a turbojet engine considered as a quasi-static system.” NACA Rep. 1011, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Washington, DC.
Parker, K., and Guo, T. (2003). “Development of a turbofan engine simulation in a graphical simulation environment.” TM-2003-212543, NASA, Washington, DC.
Polley, J. A., Adibhatla, S., and Hoffman, P. J. (1988). “Multivariable turbofan control for full flight envelope operation.” 88-GT-6, ASME, New York.
Shaw, P. D., Rock, S. M., and Fisk, W. S. (1988). “Design methods for integrated control systems.” TR-88-2061, Air Force Wright Aeronautical Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.
Simon, D. L., and Armstrong, J. B. (2012). “An integrated approach for aircraft engine performance estimation and fault diagnostics.” GT-2012-69905, ASME, New York.
Simon, D. L., Armstrong, J. B., and Garg, S. (2011). “Application of an optimal tuner selection approach for on-board self-tuning engine models.” GT-2011-46408, ASME, New York.
Simon, D. L., and Garg, S. (2010). “Optimal tuner selection for Kalman filter-based aircraft engine performance estimation.” J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 132(3), 031601.
Small, L. L. (1982). “AFWAL turbine engine controls research and development—Present and future.” Proc., American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 20th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Smith, K. L. (1986). “Design methods for integrated control systems.” TR-86-2103, Air Force Wright Aeronautical Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.
Spang, H. A., III, and Brown, H. (1999). “Control of jet engines.” Control Eng. Pract., 7(9), 1043–1059.
Stueber, T. J., Vrnak, D. R., Le, D. K., and Ouzts, P. J. (2010). “Control activity in support of NASA TBCC research.” TM-2010-216109, NASA, Washington, DC.
Szuch, J. R., et al. (1977). “F100 multivariable control synthesis program—Evaluation of multivariable control using a real-time engine simulation.” TP-1056, NASA, Washington, DC.
Urban, L. A. (1974). “Parameter selection for multiple fault diagnostics of gas turbine engines.” 74-GT-62, ASME, New York.
Watts, S. R., and Garg, S. (1995). “A comparison of multivariable control design techniques for a turbofan engine control.” Proc., ASME 40th Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Norcross, GA.
Weigl, H. J., et al. (1998). “Active stabilization of rotating stall and surge in a transonic single stage axial compressor.” J. Turbomach., 120(4), 625–636.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26Issue 2April 2013
Pages: 422 - 438

History

Received: May 31, 2012
Accepted: Nov 15, 2012
Published online: Mar 15, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2013

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Sanjay Garg [email protected]
Chief, Controls and Dynamics Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland, OH 44135. E-mail: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share