Free Web NovelChapter 864: Chapter 451: Group 2 Design Sets Sights on Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets!_3
The Aviation Group’s evaluation of the Kunlun Group 2 engine design took over two months, nearly three, almost as long as it took for the Kunlun Group 2 to complete the design.
There was no helping it. freeweɓnøvel.com
Some designs were simple for Zhao Yi, such as the turbine assembly, compressor boosting blades, and stator blades; he finished them in just a few days. But, the fact is, it’s not just completing the design that’s difficult—even evaluating the designs is challenging. Each blade design is incredibly complex, and demonstrating how the design performance translates to engine performance is an exceedingly intricate task.
If one knows how to perform the calculations, that’s one thing; but some don’t even know how to start. Zhao Yi had to give detailed explanations, allowing the expert evaluation team to understand and proceed with the verification calculations.
The expert group from the Aviation Group that conducted the evaluation of the Kunlun Group 2 design comprised over twenty people, divided into seven teams to assess different parts of the design. There were two fellows from the Science Academy, and three from the Engineering Academy, but the evaluation process was still slow. The turbine and blade assemblies, which were the simplest parts for Zhao Yi, proved to be the most difficult for them.
Fortunately, it was completed.
Zhao Yi also had no choice but to take a special car to the Aviation Group headquarters. The headquarters was not far from the capital, but several hours of driving was still exhausting. He had left in the morning, and by the time he arrived at the Aviation Group headquarters, it was already three in the afternoon.
Upon arriving at the Aviation Group, Zhao Yi quickly received the detailed design acceptance report. Many academicians and researchers gathered around to exclaim, "Academician Zhao, your designs are too exquisite, too perfect!"
"I’ve been researching the turbine assembly and encountered many problems, but in the end, your design proved to be astonishing, maximizing the efficiency of the turbine blades, though the manufacturing requirements are a bit higher..."
"The material requirements are also high, we have tried several types of materials for the new cooling passage design, and it was no easy task..."
The latest materials mentioned refer to the design of the venting pistons. The original piston design didn’t need to withstand too high pressures and temperatures—it was just a piston that could be burst open by pressure. However, the small passage design imposes high demands on the material. It has to withstand higher temperatures and pressures while maintaining a certain strength and resistance to deformation, making the search for suitable materials a challenge.
The same goes for other materials.
For instance, the compressor boosting blades have become a bit more complex due to the new design: within the area measured in square inches, there are two to three small holes, and the design includes curved arcs. The material’s strength must meet standards; under high pressure, it is very prone to cracking and destruction.
And so on.
Zhao Yi also offered a few explanations before turning his attention to the design acceptance report. The report was over three hundred pages long, analyzing each design detail, including materials, weight, performance, and more. Much of the content supplemented the design, and some involved modifications to optional materials, followed by further verification. Seeing this thick acceptance report, he acknowledged the extensive work done by the expert group.
The most crucial data in the acceptance report is the overall assessment of the engine design’s performance capability—
Theoretical maximum thrust: 16.3 tons.
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 10–12.
These two are the most important indicators of turbofan engine performance. Zhao Yi wasn’t surprised by the data; in fact, he found it somewhat lower than he had expected.
"Our design’s maximum thrust could exceed 18 tons, couldn’t it?" Zhao Yi asked, puzzled.
Academician Zhong Hua explained, "Your design, when we evaluated it, shows a maximum thrust of 18.3 tons, which surpasses the standards of fifth-generation engines. However, the materials and manufacturing techniques can’t keep up."
"Some of the designs manufactured differ from the original designs, and the restrictions from materials and manufacturing technology are too great."
Zhao Yi nodded in understanding, saying, "We have to increase investments in precision manufacturing and materials research domestically, otherwise many technologies will be constrained in the future."
"Indeed."
Many nearby people shared the sentiment.
Liu Jiankun came over, clearly excited, "It’s already very good. The theoretical maximum of the Kunlun engine could only approach fourth-generation engine standards, but this design theoretically surpasses the fifth generation. We won’t have to worry about engine design for decades to come."
The others became excited as well.
In fact, over the past two months, their excitement had peaked more than once. Even now, speaking about it stirred them up again. The Kunlun Group 2’s design was so perfect, it propelled turbofan engine design from near fourth-generation standards straight to fifth-generation.
Design and manufacturing are not the same, but one cannot manufacture without a design. With the Kunlun Group 2’s design, there’s no need to worry about turbofan engine design problems for decades to come.
This was truly exciting!
Previously, the only domestic turbofan engine was the Kunlun, with a design theoretical maximum thrust-to-weight ratio of 7 to 8. For the actual prototype produced, the thrust-to-weight ratio was only about 6.
According to international information, the Kunlun could only reach the standard of third-generation engines at most. The third-generation engines emerged over thirty years ago, represented by engines such as M Country’s F100, F110, F404, Europe’s RBl99, M88-3, and Su Country’s RD-33 and AL-31F, with a thrust-to-weight ratio of about 8.
Later, in the 1990s, fourth-generation aircraft engines appeared, represented by M Country’s F119 and Europe’s EJ200, with thrust-to-weight ratios around 10. The F119 was equipped on the F-22 fighter jet, while the EJ-200 was on the "Typhoon" fighter jet.
Entering the 21st century, fifth-generation aircraft engines emerged, represented by M Country’s F135 and the jointly developed F136 by Y Country and M Country, with thrust-to-weight ratios of 12 to 13. The F135 engine was fitted on the most advanced F-35 fighter jet.
The Kunlun Group 2’s engine design level had already caught up with the world’s most advanced engines, but due to material and manufacturing constraints, it couldn’t fully realize the designed potential. However, just utilizing a part of it was enough to produce engines with fourth-generation or above performance.
"It’s sufficient for equipping fifth-generation fighters!"
Liu Jiankun made a definitive judgment. Having discussed it in internal meetings, they came to the same conclusion.
The Aviation Group had always been developing higher-end fighter aircraft, aiming to match the top-tier F-35, but the biggest limitation was the engine. Lacking even fourth-generation engines, let alone fifth-generation, the fourth-generation engines were considered the cutting-edge in friendly Country E and were not feasible for mass production or export to the domestic market.
Now, with the Kunlun Group 2’s design, as long as it could be manufactured and developed, it was enough to be equipped on fifth-generation fighters. Then, the country would also have the world’s top-tier fifth-generation fighters.
The significance of developing top-tier aviation engines is profound. Being able to independently produce fourth-generation and above engines could greatly reduce costs and allow the Air Force to bypass the process of equipping with three-and-a-half and fourth-generation fighters, moving swiftly to an upgrade to the fifth generation.
Then the Air Force would truly have the confidence to say its strength had surpassed the world’s advanced level.
