Objectives
GRAIN has been an international networking project co-funded by the 7thFramework Program (FP07) and by the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technologies Industry Corporation (MIIT). This project has been coordinated by CIMNE and several of the new GRAIN2 Consortium (have) and will participate(d) to both of them. This collaborative projects gathered experts on the two Europe (17) and China (13) sides to strengthen cooperation, exchanges and forums on the future trends in the five (5) Key Green Technologies (KGT) including Emission reductions (KGT1), CO2 reduction (KGT2), Noise reduction (KGT3), Environmentally friendly materials (KGT4) and HPC environment tools for KGTs 1-4 of interest to the green aeronautic sector. RTD interest, skills, and experiences of Chinese and European partners in the relevant green KGT areas of multi physics modeling, simulation and multidisciplinary design have been identified through a series of dissemination events including short course (at VKI), workshops and horizon forums including technical and strategic round tables. The main outcomes of the GRAIN Project have launched both the prospection of greener RTD areas activities and the identification of teams for future HORIZON 2020 EU-China Coordinated calls.
The main objective of GRAIN2 is to focus its greening activities following the Flight Path 2050 Vision for Aircraft en route to the very ambitious challenge "Protecting the environment and the energy supply" in three major following lines: i) greening the air vehicle, ii) greening the Air transport System and iii) Reducing the carbon foot print of aviation via sustainable alternative fuels.
To achieve carefully these objectives five Key Greener Technologies are considered. Four (4) KGTs are vertical areas:
KGT1: Propulsion related green technologies (including NOx and CO2reduction, contrails, mission modeling, alternative fuels, ...)
KGT2: Airframe Flight Physics (including Drag reduction, noise reduction, HPC innovative architecture, numerical simulation, ...)
KGT3: Environmental friendly materials and structures (including Smart structures and materials, bio-sourced materials, composite technologies, metal alloys, surface coatings, structural health monitoring, ...)
KGT4: CNS (Communications Navigation and Surveillance)/ATM for greener air transport
One (1) is a dissemination and communication platform for Collecting and Prospecting Green Applications that will give traversal support to all KGTs.
GRAIN2 will identify innovative R&D methods, tools and HPC environments (supercomputers and GPGPUs) in the different KGTs according to the needs of major aeronautical industries to deeper understand the mechanism of engine exhaust emissions, to improve fuel efficiency and environmental performance, to lower noise for landing gear and high lift surfaces, to introduce new materials with multiple functions, to help significantly the development of biofuels for greenhouse gas emission reduction, etc.
These objectives will be met by the GRAIN2 supporting joint Europe-China networking actions by a series of open dissemination events including single or multi KGT groups, R&D prospecting activities like Open Forums, Workshop, Short Course involving physical modeling, simulation, optimization and control experts from Europe and China in the different KGT areas.
The targeted International Greener Networking critical outcome of GRAIN2 is a green leverage according to the Flight Path 2050 Vision for Aircraft preparing towards future HORIZON 2020 EU-China Coordinated Calls.