Research and development Moscow complex of Central AeroHydrodynamic Institute (RDMC): the year was successful enough
How did activity economic indicator of research and development at the Moscow complex of the Central AeroHydrodynamic Institute (RDMC) change for 2013? What scientific results did complex departments show? What work is carried out on the complex testing sites? Why did Boris Alyoshin visit Dubna? Vladimir Petrovich Sokolyanskiy, complex manager, spoke with “TSAGI News” about these and other issues.
Vladimir Petrovich, how successful from an economic point of view was 2013 for the Moscow complex?
I can confidently say: the year was very successful. In comparison with the previous accounting period we increased research efforts so that the total amount of a contract for the first time exceeded half of billion rubles. And if the budget component of our research somehow decreased in comparison with 2012, by about 20 mln. rub., the indicator of the contract work amount increased from 90 up to 146 mln. rub. In total the amount significantly increased — by 10%. The number of contracts in the expiring year was more than 30 units, which is a lot. Of course the increase in research efforts resulted in an employee wage hike. If we take the year 2012, the total average wage of RDMC employees was 46 thousand rubles. The first two-three months of 2013 it was somewhatw lower. And then it started to increase significantly and in October-November it was at
What has occurred of interest in the scientific work of RDMC?
First, once again I want to point out the very active work of our acousticians under the direction of Victor Felixovich Kol’ev. The Department on a regular basis pleases us by its achievements. According to the results of a strategic nature, we are pleased by the development of new approaches to research of noise emitted by noncompact distributed sources. It is especially interesting to research this phenomenon in the presence of sound screening by aircraft construction components. And the second very interesting problem that we considered in the ninth department was the research of noise generation problems during the interaction of engine exhausts with high lift devices. Earlier this problem received little attention. But today when aircraft becoming more and more silent, there has evolved research of a “new” noise source, that of the engine blast hitting the trailing-edge flaps. We learned that this source can make a notable contribution to aircraft total noise in situ.
This department for the first time in our practice carried out complex experimental research of a large-scale half-model of the МС-21 aircraft in DNW NWB air tunnel in Braunschweig, Germany. Work was carried out under contract with the “Irkut” corporation. Our acousticians and aerodynamicists carried out revolutionarily tests. The resulting data for the first time demonstrated a space pattern of noise source distribution on the aircraft. I believe they were very helpful for our acousticians when working on the MC-21 aircraft. Also, I think these results will help from the point of view of understanding the physics of processes that take place on the flow around an aircraft during its operation and the influence of different factors on external noise.
One more interesting project was performed by the ninth department under contract with OJSC “AKIN”. Specialists developed recommendations for the elimination of self-oscillating in the hydrocarbon transferring system. It is a very important and interesting theme. You know than in our country there are a lot of oil and gas pipe lines, and this work is a shining example of our scientific capability diversification.
Fluid dynamicists made a mark with the PhD thesis presentation of Yuriy Fyodorovich Zhuravlev and the issuing of the appropriate monumental monography “Hydrodynamics and dynamics of bodies high-speed operations in fluids”. The book is dedicated to the centennial of the birth of the founding scholar of the school of free-surface flow hydrodynamics, G. V. Logvinovich, and to the 95 anniversary of TSAGI.
Last year industrial aerodynamicists conducted extended front research. Among the most interesting research I note the airflow research on the helicopter landing sites in the Kremlin and near the Government house. The models of the respective sites were tested in the tunnel and it was learned that the conditions when the landing are safe. The work itself may be typical for us, but here it is important because it was carried out for the benefit of the President and the Government. As in previous years, considerable research was done to define wind loads acting on the high-rise structures of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.
Also successfully continued was the design of lift and propulsion systems of the fan configuration. These systems will have extensive use in different fields of aeronautical equipment, including air drones.
Also a mention about the department of scientific and technical information, that continues to work successfully under the direction of Andrey Anatolyevich Yurgenson. The subdivision informs both the Institute management and employees and industry players about all news and trends in world aviation development, and prepares very good reviews on international exhibitions.
How do matters stand in RDMC concerning the publications and speaking engagements on conferences?
According to the results of research in 2013 it published 28 articles in various magazines, a considerable increase in activity, connected with participation in conferences. We visited 25 conferences, including 12 international conferences. In total it comes to 103 reports. In comparison with the previous year the number of reports increased almost doubled.
What did Engineering Services do in 2013?
They, as befits, provided stability of our sites in Moscow and Dubna. The year finished without serious wrecks; there were no major accidents. Heat, electric and water supply systems worked satisfactorily therefore all operational parameters for experimental research were assured. As for electric mains it must be noted that on the Moscow site the equipment is rather dated. It works from sheer will, therefore sometimes troubles occur. So I would like to thank the TSAGI electrical supervisor and staff — A.V. Medvedev. Alexander Vasilievich’s employees came to us and greatly assisted with repair and diagnostics.
We started the strategic work to upgrade all mains at the Moscow site. The first step in 2013 was the replacement of most of the old-fashioned distribution boxes, partially the mains. We will continue this work and hope that there will be perfect operations at the site during the next two-three years. We started repair and refurbishment works on TSAGI’s aerologic laboratory historical tower.
This year we repaired six telphers. A telpher is small hoisting machine that helps to transport models and heavy equipment within the site. We conducted some important activities, connected with increasing of fire safety efficiency. In particular, we commissioned an automatic dry chemical fire fighting system.
In addition, we repaired the LP compressor. For us it was very important because acousticians that conduct experimental works use this compressor continually. As a result of modernization, compressor capability has doubled; and respectively the range of the possible experiments has expanded.
On both our sites we conducted detailed revision and certification of HP vessels. In Dubna we built a small room for the compressor station. In this context safety issues on the Moscow and Dubna site are rectified.
Concerning the experimental equipment we continued to keep all plants in working order. A new plant with exotic name came into being: the Ecological Comfort Laboratory. Many people know that on the site in Dubna there is a Yak-42 aircraft. Its cabin provided the space, and the seats and cover were reconstructed, as well as the purchase of additional. The first research connected with climatic, air and temperature comfort and with air ventilation system operations efficiency have begim.
In summary, I would can describe the work of our engineering services in Moscow and Dubna as appropriate.
Last year, in September, Boris Sergeyevich Alyoshin visited the site in Dubna. What are the results of that visit’s plan of action?
Indeed, Boris Sergeyevich personally estimated experimental capability conditions in Dubna, and he talked to all employees. Upon completion he specified the measures needing rectification at the site. There already exists the specific repair, reconstruction and upgrading plan for the next two years. We hope that in the near future we will start construction of the new air tunnel acoustic installation: it already has the conventional name of AK-5. It will be a unique installation for Russia, on which it will be possible to work not only with cold flows but also with hot streams.
And the second upcoming trend in Dubna is seaplane station development. We have a seaplane station only in name as a location on the map, an area for which there is instruction on flight operation. We hope that in the near future we will start major construction there. We will construct a slipway, helidecks and a rough airstrip, that will help us to research ground deployment issues. In this location it will be possible to use air drones. And a seaplane station itself will be the place for experimental research and operation of seaplanes. We thought that we will be able to train seaplane pilots there. Today in Russia a lot of accidents occur because pilots incorrectly understand light seaplane hydrodynamics, which they pilot.
To sum up, I would like to say that Dubna has good prospects. Earlier we had definite difficulties with Dubna connected with that fact that this site was in practice a testing site for acousticians and fluid dynamicists. It didn’t have its own themes; therefore there were always money problems. After Boris Sergeyevich’s visit drastic action was taken to increase wages. In turn this provided the possibility to create a collective, that could ensure the performing of not only experimental research, but also ensure financial backing within the scope of the theme on a permanent basis.
Are positive changes in financial backing reflecting on young professional interests?
Yes. Of course graduates come to us but unfortunately not as actively as we wish. In 2013 we employed seven graduates. But it is not enough and we would like to employ
Some words about interesting events that took place in RDMC last year.
The most important event was the All-Russian conference on air acoustics. The third time it was conducted as an open conference — foreign specialists came to take part in the conference. At the last conference there were 46 scientists from TSAGI and 110 people from other institutes, not only industrial institutes but also scientific institutes; foreign specialists and scientists from Lithuania, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Denmark. According to the participants’ opinion TSAGI as the host of a conference deserves gratitude and high praises.
In the second half of the year there was one more important event — the final meeting of the ORINOCO 7РП projects partners. The Russian part of the project was headed by TSAGI, the European part by ONERA. Eric Lecomt, the European Commission representative, admitted that the work has been carried out at the highest scientific level both in the air acoustics field and in the plasma physics field. These were world-class results. According to Lecomt’s words they will mainly define the order of business for future research in the above mentioned fields. He suggested admitting the ORINOCO project development organization as workable; and within this project research will be continued to obtain fundamental results, and to achieve a higher level of available technologies. In the European Commission representative’s opinion, this project shows exceptional prospects of cooperation in a coordinated format between the EU and the Russian Federation.
What are the RDMC’s plans for 2014?
It is expected that the amount of contract works will considerably increase in comparison with the previous year. We received firm orders for more than 200 mln. rub., and additionally for