June 2023 – Every year, the Mechanical Engineering faculty of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) engages in a collaborative effort with leaders in the industry who possess extensive engineering and manufacturing backgrounds. This partnership aims to provide practical industry projects for the students and enhance their learning experience. In January, the faculty reached out to the Belcan Indianapolis office (on Southern Avenue) seeking technically challenging project ideas for their capstone program.
A Senior Design Engineer at Belcan proposed to engage the students in a design optimization process focused on a critical component of a turbofan engine—the fan disk responsible for generating the thrust that propels an airplane. Specifically, the project aimed to enhance the design of the fan disk used in a small commercial aircraft and to explore innovative concepts that could improve the weight and lifespan of the fan disk. This project served as an ideal introductory task for the students, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge and gain hands-on experience in a practical engineering scenario.
To kick off the capstone project design phase, the Belcan team invited eight Mechanical Engineering students to visit the Belcan Indianapolis office to gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s expectations and best practices. The Belcan team mentored the students through finite element analysis (FEA) designs and process, providing them with step-by-step instructions on setting up the model in ANSYS, a widely used FEA software package, and interpreting the results. Under the guidance of the Belcan team, the students embarked on a series of simulations, systematically adjusting parameters and assessing the resulting changes in lifespan and weight. By iteratively refining their designs, the team sought an optimized solution that balanced both weight and lifespan considerations.
As the project progressed, the students gradually became proficient in utilizing ANSYS for FEA, allowing them to independently set up and analyze models. The Belcan team closely mentored them, offering guidance, feedback, and suggestions for improvement as they encountered challenges and made design iterations.
After months of intensive research, design iterations, and collaboration, the students presented their final findings and recommendations to an audience of professors and students. Their report included a thorough analysis of the simulation results and a detailed evaluation of the fan disk’s life and weight under various operating conditions, considering different design parameters, materials, and shapes.
This ongoing collaboration between Belcan and IUPUI demonstrates the company’s commitment to fostering local talent, nurturing the next generation of engineers, and creating opportunities for aspiring professionals. Through regular recruitment efforts, the Indianapolis office contributes to the growth and success of IUPUI students and the local engineering community.
