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GE
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) is a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of aircraft engines for all sizes of aircraft, from the small turboprop commuter planes to the largest jumbo jets. Through the development of its CF34, CFM56, CF6, and GE90 engine families, GEAE has gained a wealth of engine data that has enabled the company to aggressively develop and validate innovative noise-reduction technology for commercial aircraft engines.

Leveraging the intellectual resources of GE's Corporate Research and Development Staff (GE-CRD), GEAE has developed the basic physical understanding of the noise sources in aircraft engines and the two have teamed up develop novel concepts for reducing component noise. These concepts are quantified through advanced mathematical models and associated computer codes that explain the characteristics of these noise sources.

GEAE pioneered the development of small-scale fan-nacelle simulator models for developing advanced turbofan designs such as the GE90, one of the quietest engines in its thrust class. These models allow GEAE to economically evaluate performance, operability, and acoustics of advanced fan-nacelle designs in one test without the expense of full-scale engine testing. The company has conducted successful fan-nacelle simulator test programs in wind tunnels all over the world, including Boeing's Low Speed Aeroacoustics Facility, NASA Glenn's 9x15 foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel, and the Duits-Nederlandse-Windtunnel (DNW) Large Low-speed Facility in the Netherlands.

As an active participant in NASA's Advanced Subsonic Technology Noise Reduction Program, GE has made significant progress in developing both fan and jet noise reduction concepts. Examples of these concepts include fan blade and vane sweep and lean, jet exhaust chevron nozzles, improved treatment design methods, and active noise controls. GEAE is transitioning the most promising of those noise reduction technologies to new engine programs as they become mature enough to economically implement into production.

GEAE is committed to developing noise reduction technologies that provide both acceptable community noise and a reliable, low-cost engine for airline customers. As a participant in the OAI Aeroacoustics Research Consortium, GE sees an opportunity to foster synergistic collaboration between industry and the best research scientists from both industry and academia, in pursuit of this commitment.

Contact Information

Richard Cedar, Senior Staff Engineer Installation Aero & Acoustics GE Aviation 1 Neumann Way, MD W26 Cincinnati, OH 45215-1988 Phone: 513.672.7400 Phone: 513.552.3301 Richard.Cedar@ae.ge.com

For further information regarding GE, see its website at www.geae.com.