Come join us in Exploring Airfoil Modeling & Metrology

AIRFOIL COURSE LOGISTICS

Online Course

Course Duration: Oct 19-22, 2026 5 days (20 hours)

Course Hours: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Eastern Time, US)

Cost: $1,250 per student

Instructor: Jeff Lancaster (Retd. PWA Airfoil Technical Fellow)

Instructor: Dr. William Cousins, (Retd. Raytheon Technologies Research Center Technical Fellow)

Instructor: Dr. Chittaranjan Sahay, University of Hartford

Instructor: Dr. Suhash Ghosh, University of Hartford

PWA CONTACTS: Peter E. Teti, Quality Engineering Fellow (peter.teti@prattwhitney.com)

MATERIALS

Course slides supplied by University of Hartford

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

PW Certificate Course on Fundamentals of Manufacturing Metrology or Familiarity with the course contents

TARGET AUDIENCE

This course is geared towards Design/Manufacturing/Quality Engineers, CMM/Light Programmers,

Metrology specialists

COURSE OVERVIEW

This five-day program will start off by covering the fundamentals of airfoils including geometry and the influence of its function. In addition to current airfoil-based techniques, the course will also provide an overview of the next generation process (currently being transitioned to) focusing on the use of 3D Model based measurement, functional analysis codes, and multi-variant & principal component statistical analysis. The second day of the course will provide the student with some hands-on experience using CMM dimensional and geometrical inspection techniques.

COURSE OUTLINE

DAY 1: JET ENGINE & AIRFOIL BASICS

Part 1: Jet Engine Basics

Presented by: Jeff Lancaster, Retired PWA Fellow

• Basic Jet Engine Operation

• The Brayton Cycle

• Definitions of Compression Ratio, Compressor Ratio, & Engine Pressure Ratio

• The 3 Major Jet Engine Types (Video)

• Thrust Reversing (Video)

• Major Engine Modules

• The Standard Flight Cycle (example)

• Concept of Life Limited Parts & the Associated Role of Monitoring Flight Cycles

• Examples of Un-Contained Disk & Fan Blade Failures

• Root Causes for Airfoil Defects (many examples)

Part 2: Airfoil Geometry/Engine Performance, focus on Engine Components

Presented by: Dr. William Cousins, Retired PWA Fellow

• Fans, Compressors and Turbines

• Airfoil Loading and the Relationship to Stall & Surge

DAY 2: AIRFOIL ACCURACY & ENGINE OPERATION

Part 1: Airfoil Geometry/Engine Performance (continued)

Presented by: Dr. William Cousins, Retired PWA Fellow

• Airfoil geometry definitions - High and Low Speed Compressor and turbine airfoils

• Loading and Diffusion

• Compressor and Turbine maps

Part 2: Airfoil Basics

Presented by: Jeff Lancaster, Retired PWA Fellow

Fundamental Role of Airfoils in a Jet Engine

Jet Engine OEM 10 Year Goals and the Role Airfoils Play in Attaining Those Goals

The Industry 4.0 Technologies Required to Attain Those Goals

The Evolution of the Following Has Set the Stage for the Next Generation Industry 4.0 Based Processes:

- TSFC Reduction (example)

- Compression Ratio Increase (example)

- Reduced Core Size (example)

- Improved Fan Blade Design (example)

- Increased Turbine Inlet Temperatures (example)

- Increased Airfoil Cooling Efficiency (example

DAY 3: AIRFOIL MODELING BASICS

Presented by: Jeff Lancaster, Retired PWA Fellow

• Background (Some Jet Engine, NACA & Pratt History)

• Airfoil Section Parameter Terms & Definitions

• Compressor & Turbine Hardware Examples

• Compressor & Turbine Manufacturing Technologies (2 Videos)

• Details on Section Definition Using Ordered x,y,z Coordinates (examples)

• Airfoil Section Point Distribution Details (examples)

• The Airfoil Coordinate System

• Details on Airfoil Mathematical Fairing & 3D Modeling (examples)

• Impact of Geometric Variability on Axial Compressor Performance (MIT Paper Summary)

• Details on Airfoil Section Definition & Processing:

- The Compressor & Turbine Airfoil Types (Types 1, 2, 3, & 4) (examples)

- The 3 Airfoil Section Types (Planar, Conical & General) (examples)

- Sign Conventions (Sectional & Radial)

- The Design Hot-to-Cold Conversion Process

- Airfoil Stacking & Extrapolation (detailed examples)

• Details on Airfoil Section Definition & Processing (continued):

- Airfoil Section File Formats (examples)

- Section Parameters (Discretionary vs. Absolute) (examples)

- Important P&W Software Packages

- Airfoil Computerized Product Definition (CPD)

- F119 Jet Engine Hush House Video to End the Session

DAY 4: AIRFOIL METROLOGY BASICS

Presented by: Jeff Lancaster, Retired PWA Fellow

• Current Trends

• Common Airfoil Measurement Technologies (Video of Revo CMM)

• Non-contact Scanning (Structured Light, Lasers & CT) - (3 Videos)

• The 6 Point Nest

• The Next Generation Process

• Functional vs. Dimensional Analysis

• Integration of Process Capability, CPD Requirements & Engine Physics

• Process Capability Basics

• Unordered vs. Ordered Coordinates

• Some Important CMM Considerations

• Common Touch Probe Techniques & Associated Issues (examples)

• The Need for On-going Correlation Studies

• Soft

Description supplied by the event organiser.