The manufacturing technology of ultralight carbon fiber blades was developed by the Intersectoral Engineering Center "Composites of Russia" of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. A two-bladed screw created using this technology has a number of advantages over traditional metal screws: at times less weight, greater durability, high wear resistance and attractive appearance.
Initially, this development was intended for the aeroelectric lifting aircraft AELA-100. The UAV weighing 315 kg and with a flight range of more than 100 km was created by JSC OKB Kristall as part of a project to develop a complex of unmanned aerial vehicles of aircraft and helicopter types with various mass-dimensional characteristics. A drone of this type and this dimension was created in Russia for the first time. In 2019, the development was presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the MAKS Air Show.
Initially, the AELA-100 screws were manufactured by JSC OKB Kristall from aluminum alloy and needed a significant weight reduction. Specialists of the MIC "Composites of Russia" of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University carried out work on the redesign and manufacture of samples of propellers using the technology of thermal vacuum molding from carbon prepreg.
Due to the weight of the screw, which has become 7.5 times smaller, the moment of inertia of the rotor decreases, which leads to a decrease in the required power to change the rotation speed up or down. Thus, the control of the lifting force of the aircraft becomes less inert.
The technology of manufacturing ultralight carbon fiber blades using fiberglass tooling is universal and can be applied to larger aircraft.
The two-bladed screw made of polymer composite materials is only one of more than 50 research and development works carried out by the Intersectoral Engineering Center "Composites of Russia" of Bauman Moscow State Technical University from 2013 to 2020. This is a good example of how the scientific and technical potential of one of the country's leading universities is embodied in real projects.
Source of information and photo: press office of the Engineering and Innovation project of the Industrial Project Management Center
