Research at the DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology focuses on the development of propulsion concepts for next-generation aircraft. As part of the digital transformation and the use of new digital technologies in aviation, the institute is developing the virtual engine.
The engine department evaluates and digitises future propulsion concepts and aircraft engines and develops methods for their detailed analysis. As part of the digital transformation of aviation and using the latest digital technologies, the department is working on the development of the virtual engine.
Our research focuses on the development of propulsion concepts for next-generation aircraft, with an emphasis on revolutionary propulsion systems and alternative fuels. We conduct technology studies and evaluate the potential of concepts, preliminary and detailed designs. As part of the digital transformation of aviation and the use of new digital technologies, the department is developing the virtual engine. It is developing a highly integrated, collaborative process architecture that takes into account all the necessary disciplines and levels of detail. This approach shortens development times and enables new, environmentally friendly engines to be brought to market more quickly.
The department works with the GTlab software solution to design propulsion concepts and develop new design methodologies. This collaborative platform has been under development at German Aerospace Center (DLR) since 2012. GTlab is an integrative software framework for solving multidisciplinary challenges in propulsion technology. The platform enables the design of propulsion systems or individual components at different levels of detail - from concept through preliminary design to detailed design - and over the entire product life cycle.
The Materials Testing Centre for Fire Behaviour at the Trauen site deals with issues relating to the spread of fire and fire protection, including certification and full-scale fire tests.
Digital engine and multidisciplinary methods
Collaborative process architectures and methods of multidisciplinary design Expansion of GTlab in the area of collaborative work Expansion of the central data model Support for design chains and technology studies Further development of DLRp2
Applied AI and intelligent data processing AI within the GTlab framework Efficient processing of large amounts of data Intelligent and interactive post-processing
Virtual engine Digital twin Predictive maintenance Integration of flight and experimental data
Geometry Expansion of automated geometry processes Interoperability between geometry tools Automatic meshing
Engine pre-design
Technology monitoring for the collection and evaluation of innovative propulsion concepts
Multidisciplinary analysis of evolutionary-developed and disruptive propulsion architectures
Material testing centre for fire behaviour
Certification of aviation materials
Fire behaviour of new types of construction with lightweight materials, batteries and burn-through behaviour of aircraft cells
Operational tests of fire extinguishing systems and extinguishing agents, as well as optimisation of fire detection systems
Consultancy on aviation standards in the field of fire protection
Wide range of testing infrastructure: fire laboratory, fire hall and fire site for medium and large-scale fire tests, wind tunnel fire test rig, underfloor cargo hold test rig for testing extinguishing systems
