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8 July
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Successful tests of European Experimental Space Vehicle by STARCS
STARCS has during Q2 2010 performed wind tunnel tests of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) which is the European Space Agency (ESA) re-entry system and technologies demonstrator. The IXV is paving the way to European autonomous space transportation and exploration endeavors.
STARCS assignment was to provide complementary aerodynamic characterization of the IXV vehicle with emphasis on the Descent & Recovery System initialization phase. The wind tunnel tests were performed at speeds ranging from Mach 0.3 to Mach 1.7 and included obtaining aerodynamic forces and moments for longitudinal and lateral characteristics, local static pressures, Schlieren visualization and a first wake investigation and flow field identification using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).
“This has been a very important commission for us since the IXV is part of ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme. The IXV has also been devoted to optimizing a long-term European roadmap for in-flight experimentation with atmospheric re-entry enabling systems and technologies.” says Mikael Tjernlund CEO at STARCS.
STARCS performed the project as a subcontractor to Dassault Aviation and the work was funded by ESA. Dassault is very satisfied with the tests and the project manager at Dassault, Jean-Pierre TRIBOT, commented after the test was completed “STARCS performed the highly sophisticated tests with proficiency and flexibility”.
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26 April
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STARCS signs framework agreement with the Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI.
The 22:nd of April 2010, STARCS has signed a framework agreement with the Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI. The agreement means that STARCS together with FOI has identified a common long term interest to cooperate within areas such as, for example, conceptual studies, flight performance analysis, flight mechanics, aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, propulsion and measurement technology. In addition, both parties are interested in general exchange of information regarding research and technology development. The agreement is in line with STARCS’ strategy to stay in the frontline of technical development and to, together with partners, be able to undertake larger scale commissions.
Contract signing by Acting Director-General of FOI, Jan-Olof Lind (to the right), and STARCS CEO, Mikael Tjernlund.
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18 Feb
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STARCS participate in Swedish business delegation to Brazil
Mikael Tjernlund, President and CEO of STARCS, will participate in a Swedish business delegation that visits Brazil on the 23-26 March 2010. The visit is in connection to the Swedish State Visit on the same time at the invitation of President Lula da Silva.
We believe that the business relations between Sweden and Brazil, especially regarding aeronautical R&D, has a bright future ahead with a lot of potential synergies. STARCS intention is to establish long term cooperation with companies and institutes in Brazil.
STARCS is the largest commercial centre for aerodynamic research & development in Scandinavia. After 70 years as s state owned research institute our business was in 2008 transformed into a private company. Since then, STARCS has been looking intensively for new international business opportunities and partnerships.
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11 Feb
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Visit from the Swedish Commitee on Defence
STARCS recently had the privilege to receive a visit from the Chairman of the Swedish Committee on Defence, Mr. Anders Karlsson. STARCS was represented by owner Mr. Magnus Sjöland, Business Area Manager Fredrik Pehrsson, Technical Manager Per Davidsson and Senior Project Manager Kristoffer Danèl. After an initial discussion regarding the national interest of maintaining advanced laboratories for aeronautical R & D such as STARCS to sustain a competitive level for Sweden in both in civil and military aeronautics and, not the least, the potential job opportunities, Mr. Karlsson was given a guided tour around the facilities.
Demonstration of the transonic wind tunnel T1500. (Mr. Karlsson second from the left.)
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5 Feb
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Another successful compressor test completed for Volvo Aero Corporation
STARCS have successfully completed testing of the Volvo Aero Corporation test Compressor Blenda. The compressor is designed to have a high pressure ratio for each stage making it possible to reduce the number of stages and thereby reducing the overall system weight for the engine. This will lead to reduced airplane weight and a lower fuel consumption.
“The experienced and competent personnel at STARCS enabled the demanding and highly complex test plan to be carried through smoothly” project manager at Volvo, Torbjörn Salomonson commented after the test was completed.
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29 Dec
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White test in STARCS LT1
On commission from White, one of the largest architect firms in Sweden, STARCS has performed wind tunnel testing of facade elements intended for the Stockholm Water Front building.
The conference centre Stockholm Water Front building, situated in the centre of Stockholm, is under its final phase of construction, involving the attachment of thousands of steel profiles that are to cover the walls.
The profiles were tested in STARCS LT1 wind tunnel, capable of producing wind of up to 80 meters per second. Deflection and vibrations of the elements were monitored up to speeds well above what could be expected in real life. Project manager of White, Stefano Mangili, was pleased with the results: "We aimed high for this project, with a highly complex facade consisting of over 3000 stainless steel panels. Together they give a strong and spectacular effect. In order to fully understand how our facade behaved under windy circumstances we needed to make a wind tunnel test. The team at STARCS gave us the support we need to understand and evaluate our facade and brought us one step closer to finalizing it."
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Profiles being tested in LT1.
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Artist impression of the Stockholm Water Front building.
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27 Nov
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STARCS enters agreement with Volvo Car Corporation
Through a unique cooperation with Volvo Car Corporation, STARCS can now offer testing in VCC's large subsonic wind tunnel, PVT. Together with STARCS' own mid-size, low speed wind tunnel LT1 and the smaller LT5 it forms a strong offer covering almost any need for low speed aerodynamic testing: Whereas LT1 can offer very cost efficient multipurpose testing, sufficient for most cases, PVT answers to specific requirements like a larger cross section and advanced ground simulation. With STARCS' long experience from designing custom setups for all kinds of wind tunnel tests, PVT becomes an outstanding tool for all kinds of subsonic testing. With a cross section of 27 m2, a maximum wind speed of 70 m/s and state-of-the-art boundary layer control the PVT wind tunnel is one of the most advanced wind tunnels of its kind in the world.
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17 Nov
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STARCS test for Clean Sky project AIDA
STARCS’ Compressor Test Facility, KPR, serves as the only testing resource on high speed testing of the compressor in the Clean Sky project AIDA (Aggressive Intermediate Duct Aerodynamics for Competitive and Environmentally Friendly Jet Engines).
“All the aero engine manufacturers of Europe, three research institutes and five universities have joined their expertise and resources in to reach beyond the current state-of-the-art in aero engine intermediate duct design.” *
Objectives of the AIDA Project*:
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2% reduction in fuel burn through 1-2% reduction in engine weight & length and 0.5% and 1.5 % increase in compressor and turbine efficiency, respectively
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Lower engine noise levels through the use of ultra-high-by-pass-ratio jet engine configurations.
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2.5 % better operating margin for long haul aircraft through reduced fuel burn together with 5% of aero engine development costs and 70% reduction of time-to-market.
Clean Sky is one of the largest European research projects ever, with a budget estimated at €1.6 billion, equally shared between the European Commission and industry, over the period 2008 – 2013.
Public concern about air pollution, noise and climate change is growing. Today air transport produces 2% of man-made CO2 emissions and is expected to increase to 3% by 2050.
Propulsion is the major contributor to the environmental challenges set by the SRA (EU Aeronautical Strategic Research Agenda): largest noise source, the only source of NOx and a major contributor to fuel burn. The engines of 2020 should be radically different from those in service today.
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9 Sep
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STARCS contributes to de-icing experiments
During August a de-icing system was installed on a wind turbine at the wind power plant at Bleikevare, Sweden. The system is to be evaluated during the coming winters.
STARCS took part in evaluating the risk for ice accretion on different parts of the wind turbine blades and in the estimation of the heat needed to keep them clean.
STARCS offer many services to the wind power industry, where computer simulations of icing is only one of our areas of expertise. Everything from the profile geometry of turbine blades to complete landscapes with a wind farm and its surroundings can be tested and optimized in STARCS' wind tunnel facilities. |
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25 Aug
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2:nd round of Neuron tests completed in STARCS T1500
Saab Aerosystems has recently performed tests with a model of Neuron, the European Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, in a wind tunnel at STARCS in Bromma. The tests were supervised by personnel from Saab Aerosystems and Dassault Aviation (France).
The aim of the tests was to study the flight envelope, i.e. to measure aerodynamic forces. The UCAV must be able to operate as a complement to today's piloted aircraft. “This has been a very important commission for us since several European aeronautical manufactures are dependent of our results.” says Mikael Tjernlund CEO at STARCS.
The tests were performed within the Neuron-programme that is a cooperation between six industrial partners; Dassault Aviation, Saab, Alenia Aeronautica, EADS CASA, Ruag Aerospace and Hellenic Aerospace Industry. A main aim of the Neuron programme is to sustain and develop European Combat Aircraft Industry and technologies for next-generation combat aircraft and UAVs.
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4 June
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25.5 MEuro to Swedish participation in European space programmes
The Swedish government announced today ( press release in Swedish) that a decision has been made to spend a total of 25.5 million Euro until year 2011 on the Swedish participation in the European launch vehicle programmes ARTA, Ariane-5 Post-ECA and FLPP (Future Launcher Preparatory Programme). STARCS has contributed to some of these programmes and their predecessors during previous years with expertise and advanced testing of rocket nozzles, complete aerodynamic testing and calculation of flight characteristics using both wind tunnel testing and advanced measurement methods and CFD.
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14 May
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SERA visit to STARCS
STARCS is visited by the members of a SERA course (Session Européenne des Responsables d'Armement). The course is aimed at decision makers in the European defence industry involved in armament purchasing. The objective is to visit different institutions around Europe related to this business and to discuss the possibilities for extended cooperation within EU.
STARCS' Technical Manager Per Davidsson presents the T1500 transonic wind tunnel to the SERA course participants.
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26 Apr
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STARCS T1500 twenty years
STARCS celebrates the 20:th anniversary of the company's transonic wind tunnel T1500. 1989 the wind tunnel was officially declared opened by the Minister of Defence at the time, Roine Carlsson.
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16 Apr
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STARCS on the web
STARCS launches its new internet site. The purpose of the pages is to present our facilities, services and capabilities in general.
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25 Mar
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STARCS LT1 operational
STARCS large low speed wind tunnel LT1 is re-opened, now equipped with new control system.
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27 Feb
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STARCS at CEAS 2009
STARCS’ paper entitled “Design and Testing of a Unique Compressor Test Facility” was accepted for presentation at CEAS 2009, the second CEAS European Air & Space Conference to be held in Manchester, UK, 26-29 October 2009. CEAS stands for Council of European Aerospace Societies and is a council made up of the ten leading national aerospace societies in Europe. The Swedish member in CEAS is FlygTekniska Föreningen, FTF (The Swedish Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics).
External links:
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11 Feb
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STARCS invited to ATD-TC
STARCS’ Jörgen Olsson is invited to become a member of the Aerothermodynamics Technical Committee (ATD-TC) of the CEAS Space Branch. (About CEAS see February 27)
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2 Feb
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STARCS recruits
STARCS makes a strategic recruitment of Fredrik Pehrsson from Volvo Car Corporation for marketing within the new business area Energy. Fredrik has a history in aerodynamic development work in both the automotive and marine business. His most recent assignment was at the Volvo Cars Design Centre where he served as a specialist in aerodynamics and worked particularly with co-ordination of CO2-related aero-design projects closely linked to the company's overall sustainability strategy.
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2008
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18 Dec
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Successful test for Volvo Aero in STARCS KPR
Volvo Aero perform very successful test in STARCS compressor research rig: “The testing performed in partnership with FOI at STARCS in Stockholm was a big success, showing that future low pressure compressors can be made much lighter and shorter with the same or better performance,” says Torbjörn Salomonson, project manager at Volvo Aero. Read the Volvo Aero press release here.
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1 Jul
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The birth of STARCS
STARCS is officially in operation. Read more about STARCS and our history.
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