Northern Arizona University

Final Design

Our final design has been modified in several ways from our first two design iterations. The round linkage arms were replaced with flat Al-T6061 in order to make the manufacturing easier at Edwards Air force Base. The reverser halves (clamshells) were made deeper in order to catch more of the thrust and redirect it forward.  An angle of 45 degrees was chosen as the angle to redirect the thrust. This angle was found by trial and error by seeing the path of the redirected thrust and not wanting it to be directed back into the engine but trying to maximize redirecting it in the forward directions and not up in the air.  A CFD analysis was conducted on this design and it showed most of the thrust was directed in the desired direction.  The clamshell buckets were also shortened so they could be stowed behind the jet engine when not in use to reduce drag. The sides of the clamshell buckets were also flattened to make the attachment of bolts from linkage arms simpler.  The clamshells are made out of .5mm thick steel in order to with stand the high temperatures.  All the linkage arms and attachment pieces are made out of Al-T6061 in order to reduce weight.  All bolts are made out of stainless steel and can be found at McMasterCarr.com.  All components were designed so they could be made easily in house by Edwards Air force Base or bought COTS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Design of Clamshell Thrust Reverser Closed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Design of Clamshell Thrust Reverser Opened

 

Below is the dimensions of the final design clamshell thrust reverser.  The entire unit is 312.57mm in length.  When, opened, the buckets are 131.64mm in length, 207.1mm in height, and positioned at 45° to the horizontal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dimensions of Final Design Clamshell Thrust Reverser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final design clamshell thrust reverser attached to the jet engine is shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Final Design Clamshell Thrust Reverser Attached to the Jet Engine