Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, Virginia Tech expand research partnership

Virginia Tech has a joint agreement with Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney for pre-competitive research focused on the impact of environmental contaminants on aeroengine operation and testing.

The four-year project will leverage Virginia Tech’s research and cross-discipline expertise on engine operation, instrumentation, and geosciences as well as the current research relationships that both aeroengine manufacturers have with the university.

“At Virginia Tech, we are honored to be given the opportunity to build on the foundation of our existing academic alliances by partnering with Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce on this project,” says Changmin Son, the Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Professor at Virginia Tech. “The multidisciplinary group, teamed with mechanical engineering, aerospace and ocean engineering, and geosciences, will work together to tackle the impact of the airborne particulate on aircraft engines, which is a huge challenge for today’s aviation industry.”

This research relationship continues long-standing collaboration between Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney on issues common across the aerospace industry. The two companies have partnered on several government-based research projects, including a study on volcanic ash damage to aircraft engines.

“This new joint research project will help further industry understanding of airborne particles – a key contributor to engine degradation – and their impact on operability,” says Lisa Teague, head of Emerging Technologies and Innovation at Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks.

“Virginia Tech has the right expertise and facilities to help us make an impact as the joint research team will investigate the fundamentals of particle (sand/dust) properties as the particles pass through the engine with the goal of improving analysis methods to better predict those effects,” says Frank Preli, vice president, Propulsion and Materials Technologies, Pratt & Whitney. https://prattwhitney.com; https://www.rolls-royce.com; https://www.vt.edu

Appointments

Steve Carlson has joined Mayfran Int’l, a division of Tsubaki, as president, replacing Frank Sraj, who retired late last year. Carlson will report to Kevin Powers of U.S. Tsubaki in his new role. Carlson was most recently at Howmet Aerospace as its vice president and general manager for the Asia Pacific region. https://www.mayfran.com; https://www.ustsubaki.com

Metal additive manufacturing technology company Velo3D appointed Dr. Robin Stamp as director of Solutions Engineering. Previously a principal engineer at SpaceX, he’ll oversee the development of new standards with regulatory agencies and qualification of new metal alloys for use in the company’s printers. https://velo3d.com

Andreza de Souza Alberto, current director of operations at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto (SP) unit producing defense aircraft and executive jets, is the new vice president of people, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and corporate communications. Alberto holds a degree in mechatronics engineering, and previously, was a production manager and manufacturing engineering supervisor. https://embraer.com

Rollomatic Inc., a subsidiary of Rollomatic Holding Switzerland, appointed Joe Kane as CEO.

Kane will continue to hold his position as CEO of sister company, Strausak Inc. He replaces Eric Schwarzenbach, retiring Rollomatic Inc. president. 
http://www.rollomaticusa.com; https://www.strausakglobal.com