Flying High – Turbulence Cancelling
Technology Developed Using SimScale

About Turbulence Solutions 

Turbulence Solutions, a pioneer in aviation technology, has developed an innovative method to reduce the impact of atmospheric turbulence on fixed-wing aircraft. Its technology makes atmospheric turbulence measurable and controllable for cancelling turbulence effects in flight. 

Turbulence not only compromises passenger comfort and safety but also leads to significant economic losses for flight operators. The company’s groundbreaking technology, known as Turbulence cancelling, leverages advanced engineering and simulation tools, such as SimScale, to address this critical issue.

Turbulence Solutions’ technology is scalable across different fixed-wing aircraft. Our initial products target small two-seater aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kg. We have used SimScale to successfully validate testing and implementation in this category which will set the stage for expansion to larger aircraft, including models like the Airbus A320.

DI Andras Galffy

CEO, Head of Research & Technology at Turbulence Solutions

Turbulence Cancelling Technology

Turbulence cancelling is a patented technology designed to stabilize aircraft in turbulent air. It is built on the principles of advanced flight control, integrating modern technologies like LiDAR and morphing structures to minimize turbulence effects. The technology employs a combination of feedforward and feedback control mechanisms to counteract turbulence loads by dynamically adjusting control surfaces. Turbulence cancelling has been validated through manned flight tests, confirming its effectiveness. The technology is patented in the US, with additional patents under application in Europe and other regions. Its key components include:

• Direct Lift Control (DLC)
  • DLC uses high-dynamic lift variation and low-inertia flaps to directly influence the lift of the aircraft.
  • Real-time pressure measurements and control flaplets at the trailing edge adjust to turbulence conditions, maintaining stability.
• Holistic Flight Dynamics Integration
  • The technology considers vertical acceleration, pitch, roll, and wing bending moments, offering a comprehensive turbulence mitigation solution.
• Active Turbulence cancelling
  • Counteracting control surface deflections reduce turbulence loads felt by passengers by over 80%.

Aircraft manufacturers benefit from Turbulence cancelling technology through improved passenger comfort and safety, leading to higher customer satisfaction and reduced operational costs. The technology is retrofittable, offering flexibility for both new and existing aircraft.

DI Andras Galffy

CEO, Head of Research & Technology at Turbulence Solutions

Engineering and Simulation with SimScale

SimScale, a cloud-based simulation platform, plays a crucial role in developing and validating Turbulence Solutions’ technology. The platform supports various simulation types, including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

• CFD Simulations:
  • SimScale enables detailed aerodynamic performance evaluations of flaplets and entire aircraft designs.
  • Utilizing OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD tool integrated with SimScale, the company conducts fast and accurate turbulence modeling.
• FEA Simulations:
  • FEA is used to assess the structural performance of flaplets under maximum loading conditions.
  • The simulations ensure that servo motors can maintain flaplet positions without failure under high-stress scenarios.

Design and Testing Workflow

• 1. CAD Integration:
  • Initial designs are created using SolidWorks and Onshape. The models are then imported into SimScale for simulation.
  • Onshape’s free account integration with SimScale provides seamless transitions from CAD to simulation.
• 2. Prototyping and Validation:
  • 3D printed demonstrators, produced using SLA resin printing, facilitate physical testing.
  • Pitot tube probes, designed in-house, provide in-flight pressure measurements for validating simulation results.
• 3. Iterative Testing:
  • Early-stage simulations using SimScale allow for rapid iterations, testing various flaplet configurations.
  • The turbulence model accuracy is maintained within ±10%, ensuring reliable predictions for certification processes.

Wing Optimization for Turbulence

A wing is optimized for turbulence cancellation using the above design workflows. The wing has trailing edge flaplets that are controlled in real-time by highly sensitive pressure (pitot) tubes feeding data to the servo motors. The flaplets are used to decrease updraft by controlling their direction and movement.

Benefits of SimScale

Next Steps

Turbulence Solutions leverages the power of SimScale to refine and validate its innovative Turbulence cancelling technology. SimScale’s broad spectrum physics capabilities mean there are many more analysis types, features, and tools ready for the engineering team at Turbulence Solutions to try including the fast GPU-based lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) solver Pacefish and newly released AI features for accelerated aerodynamic testing.