Innovative And Bench-Tested Numerical Demonstrator For Hybrid Electric Propulsion Design

Abstract

As part of the CORAC technological roadmap, the TURBOLAB project investigates the design and modelling of hybrid turboprop systems. The integration of an electric engine and a gearbox on a shaft line is a complex task, as both components generate dynamic loads that must be fully understood to ensure shaft line integrity. Building on previous work analyzing test rig results, this paper presents the numerical models developed within the TURBOLAB R&T project to predict the torsional behavior of a geared shaft line integrating an electric motor. The numerical demonstrator provides access to the torsional response of the complete shaft line under electromagnetic and gear mesh excitations. Each modelling step is validated through correlation with experimental data from the physical test rig. This work advances the state of the art by bridging two historically distinct domains-electric motor dynamics and gear transmission behavior-and proposes a unified, predictive modelling approach from the early design stages.