TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an acoustics-based method for measuring turbofan nozzle exhaust thrust, while assessing the potential of scaling the methods for in-flight measurements.Design/methodology/approach Although many methods proposed for achieving in-flight thrust measurements involve complicated, sensitive and expense instruments, an acoustics-based approach is discussed that greatly simplifies the technology development pathway to in-flight applications.Findings Results are provided for a minimum set of sensors applied in the exhaust of a research turbofan engine at Virginia Tech, showing the difference in acoustics-measured thrust and nozzle thrust found by integrating thermocouple and Kiel probe measurements to be less than 6 per cent at the maximum fan speed examined.Practical implications Measuring accurate thrust values in flight will prove immediately valuable for installed thrust validation and engine health monitoring. Acoustics-based methodologies are attractive because of the robustness and low cost of sensors and sources. The value of in-flight thrust measurements, along with the benefits of acoustic approaches, makes the current topic of great interest for further development.Originality/value This paper presents unique applications of a time-of-flight acoustic thrust sensor, while providing an original assessment of technological challenges involved with the progression of the technique for in-flight measurements.
VL  - 92
IS  - 1
SN  - 1748-8842
DO  - 10.1108/AEAT-11-2018-0287
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-11-2018-0287
AU  - Lowe K. Todd
AU  - Otero Raul
AU  - Ng Wing
PY  - 2019
Y1  - 2019/01/01
TI  - In-flight thrust monitoring: an acoustics-based approach
T2  - Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 15
EP  - 19
Y2  - 2024/05/11
ER  -