Student Research Projects With Industrial Impact

S D Grimshaw,R Spataro,C J Clark,J V Taylor

doi:10.1115/1.4053708

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes six final year undergraduate research projects supported by a collaboration between the Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge and Reaction Engines (RE), a UK aerospace company. The collaboration is now in its fourth year of projects relating to RE's synergetic air breathing rocket engine (SABRE). The approach taken in these projects combines modern teaching pedagogy with a best practice methodology for industrial-academic collaboration and a well established framework for structuring research problems. This paper explains how the three methodologies are tailored and adapted for use with final year undergraduate research projects. The approach is mapped on to an annual project cycle which begins with the industry and academic partners deciding which topics to investigate and proceeds through student selection, the project work itself and concludes with student assessment and end-of-year reporting. The projects combine analytical, computational and experimental work and have covered counter-rotating turbomachinery, S-ducts in compressors and Helium Turbine design, all of which are topics of primary importance to the design of SABRE. Following descriptions of each of the six completed projects, the impact of the work and lessons learned are considered from the point of view of the students, the industrial partner and the academic supervisors. Overall, the students found the work extremely engaging and have all been encouraged to pursue careers in engineering, either in industry or through postgraduate study. For the industry partner the collaboration provides expertise and an approach which is not available in-house as well providing a “second look” at key technical questions. For the academics involved, the opportunity to lead research on a “real” problem with an industrial partner has proved highly motivating as well as providing opportunities for personal and career development.

Highlights

Since 2017, academics at the Whittle Laboratory have worked with Reaction Engines (RE), a UK-based aerospace technology company, to run student research projects investigating the design of the Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE)
Other projects of this type include a turbo generator design project at Imperial College in the UK [8], a thrust vectoring design project across six universities with support from the United States Air Force [5, 11], an interdisciplinary design project for an unmanned air vehicle [10], a preliminary aircraft engine design process looking at multidisciplinary trades [12] and a gas turbine multidisciplinary conceptual design given a set of functional requirements [13]
Feedback from student, academic and industry participants shows that these projects motivate everyone involved and ensures that all partners benefit from the work

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Since 2017, academics at the Whittle Laboratory have worked with Reaction Engines (RE), a UK-based aerospace technology company, to run student research projects investigating the design of the Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE). Industry professionals were involved in mentoring the students, the benefits discussed are in relation to the students’ education and any positive impacts for the industrial partners are not reported Other projects of this type include a turbo generator design project at Imperial College in the UK [8], a thrust vectoring design project across six universities with support from the United States Air Force [5, 11], an interdisciplinary design project for an unmanned air vehicle [10], a preliminary aircraft engine design process looking at multidisciplinary trades [12] and a gas turbine multidisciplinary conceptual design given a set of functional requirements [13]. The supervisor helps the student to consider what they have learned in the wider context of the project, i.e. to form concepts and generalisations: how does their work fit in with previous ideas they have had? Is progress still being made towards the overall goal of the project? How do the results help decide what to do next? Research Questions ~months

Motivation

Findings

CONCLUSIONS