Case Study
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program relies on state-of-the-art design software
Atkins Nedtech
Engineering company is co-developing JSF engine component with NX
Partner in JSF engine development
Atkins Nedtech is an engineering company that specializes in the design and analysis of aircraft components and aircraft engines.Outside the aerospace industry, Atkins Nedtech is particularly active in the development and analysis of lightweight structures. It also acts as an independent expert in the investigation of structural failures. The company, which is part of the multinational engineering and design consultancy Atkins, has a workforce of 55 people, but that number is expected to rise sharply in the coming years to a staff of around 100. The company’s activities are mainly carried out at its own offices.
Atkins Nedtech, as a specialist partner in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft program, succeeded in obtaining part of the engine development for the F136 engine being designed by the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter EngineTeam. “Rolls-Royce agreed that our team of innovative engineers would be able to develop new concepts for this assignment because we consider a design with a fresh look, compared to the traditional companies with which they do business,” says Wim van Beinum, managing director of Atkins Nedtech.
Industry-preferred design software
Atkins Nedtech is using the NX® digital product development system from Siemens PLM Software in the development and analysis of the front bearing housing of the JSF engine rotor. “In the aircraft industry, NX is one of the preferred tools for developing aircraft engines,” van Beinum explains. “Our partner, Rolls-Royce, uses NX, as do we ourselves. We have eight NX workstations equipped with all of the NX modules.”
The front bearing housing is a titanium component that must be cooled quickly. Oil is pumped at a high rate per minute to meet the cooling requirements. The housing must withstand high stresses yet be lightweight. The company is using NX to create a digital model of the housing. The 3D NX data is also used to create mockups. Special software developed by Rolls-Royce is being used to analyze the forces generated by the high rotation speeds of the rotor and how these forces are transmitted to the airframe.
“We are developing the bearing housing according to design-to-cost and design-to-manufacture principles, and in close cooperation with a specialized American manufacturer who will eventually produce the titanium casting,” explains van Beinum. His company will provide Rolls Royce with the NX model data and documentation such as test results, as well as all the data concerning the feasibility of the component.
Moving from paper to digital collaboration
Due to the nature of the assignment, Internet communication between Rolls-Royce and Atkins Nedtech is encrypted. “Whenever we get data from Rolls-Royce or send it back, the encryption happens automatically in compliance with the required security procedures,” says van Beinum. The data includes NX models that define the geometry of the housing. Ad hoc communication regarding the design, such as the approval of changes, takes the form of direct personal contact. Beinum notes,“We have in house the availability of the Teamcenter® digital lifecycle management system from Siemens PLM Software to support our client reviews (using drawings, NX models, etc.) according to aerospace and defense security regulations.”
According to van Beinum, the company’s software infrastructure is crucial to its future. He says, “Our desirability as an employer and our competitive edge for the customer is that we have the expertise and the applications such as NX that are known and respected in the industry.”
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Challenges:
- Work in collaboration with Rolls-Royce on the development of the JSF turbofan engine
Keys To Success:
- NX-based digital product development process
- Mock-ups created from NX data
Results:
- Critical titanium engine component is designed with cost and manufacturability in mind
- Company maintains desirability as an employer and partner
Industry:
- Aerospace & Defense
Client's Primary Business:
Atkins Nedtech is an engineering company that specializes in the design and analysis of aircraft components and aircraft engines. It is part of the multinational engineering and design consultancy, Atkins.
Business Initiatives:
- New Product Development
Solutions/Services:
- NX
Client Location:
Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
"In the aircraft industry, NX is one of the preferred tools for developing aircraft engines."
Wim van Beinum
Managing Director
Atkins Nedtech