The aim of the AEROCHINA2 Coordination Support Action (CSA) is to foster the cooperation between a number of industry, university and research organizations in the aeronautics sector in Europe and China in the field of multi-physics modelling, computer simulation and code validation, experimental testing and design methods for the solution of multi-physics problems of interest to the aeronautic sector. The spectrum multi-physical disciplines considered in AEROCHINA2 which are of interest of European and Chinese partners are Aerodynamics, Structures & Materials, Fluid Dynamics, Aeroacoustics, Active Flow Control and Aero Elasticity.

The aim of the AEROCHINA2 Coordination Support Action (CSA) is to foster the cooperation between a number of industry, university and research

1. To identify areas of mutual RTD interest and the clarification of the skills, experiences and capabilities of the Chinese partners in the relevant technological areas of multi-physics analysis and design
   
   
2. To develop concepts of collaboration in those areas between the European and Chinese partners in order to ensure a win-win situation
   
   
3. To prepare specific RTD activities that are mature for joint proposals for FP7.
   
   

These AEROCHINA2 objectives correspond to a more long term preparation necessary for substantial and sustainable win-win cooperation in forthcoming FP7 calls.

The specific project activities are focusing on:

1. Prospective studies on the existing methods for single and multi-physics simulation, experimentation and design tools in Europe and China.
   
   
2. The development of a common database incorporating the knowledge of the relevant multi-physic simulation/validation/design technology in Europe and China.
   
   
3. Identification of possible cooperation RTD areas.
   
   
4. The organization of a kick-off/workshop (in China) and two Database workshops (one in Europe and one in China) in order to interchange and be prepared to share knowledge on the field of multi-physics simulation, validation and design.
   
   
5. The organization of one Short Course (in Europe) in that multi-physics fields.
   
   
6. The dissemination of the project outputs among universities, research centres and industries in the aeronautic sector in Europe and China.
   
   

The starting point of AEROCHINA2 is the existing network synergy and the outcomes coming from the past AEROCHINA Special Supported Action which main technical and human outcomes are the following:

The outputs from the past AEROCHINA and the momentum achieved by the common activities constitute a very reliable technical and human basis for setting up the new AEROCHINA2 CSA.

The activities in the AEROCHINA2 CSA open a wide range of scientific and technological prospects for future cooperation between European and Chinese organizations in the development and validation of multi-physics methods and their associated analysis and design software. Access to state of the art information on RTD activities in China and in Europe on multidisciplinary mathematical and numerical methods opens many opportunities for the development of new and enhanced methods aiming to solve complex multi-physics problems in aeronautics, such as coupled aero-elastic-acoustic phenomena, electro-magnetic-mechanical problems, turbulent/chemistry interactions and optimal shape design with uncertainties accounting for multidisciplinary effects and many others. The experimental and numerical data installed and stored on databases will be of high value for verification and validation of existing and new computational and experimental procedures.

The technological benefits will derive from the new possibility of advanced design of civil aircraft vehicles taking into consideration many multidisciplinary effects currently not strongly accounted for in practice. The AEROCHINA2 Guidelines will define the strategic lines and methodologies (both numerical and experimental) to be developed in the near future for the solution of multidisciplinary problems. These guidelines will bring an added value as a basis for setting up new RTD projects.

The approach to be followed for collecting and disseminating the existing multi-physics simulation data in Europe and China is original and there is no reference of a similar initiative in the field of aeronautics before AEROCHINA. Innovations of the work include the development of the web-based AEROCHINA2 System, the collection storage and dissemination of multidisciplinary numerical/experimental data problems, technical and human scenario with EU and Chinese teams on virtual collaborative platform, the definition of a methodology for multidisciplinary data quality assessment and the critical evaluation of the state of the art information and recommendation for future joint RTD actions.

The specific scope of the AEROCHINA2 project also fits within several aspects of the European Union policies. Improvement of the design, analysis and validation tools will help to build safer and more competitive aircrafts with improved environmental features (less noise, less pollution). Indeed producing safer airplanes is one of the targets to guarantee better protection of passengers. The enhancement of aircraft design and production is one of the key aspects for a sustainable European aerospace industry meeting the challenges and demands of the air-transport sector for the next decades.

It is also expected that the AEROCHINA2 Communication System and the multidisciplinary data stored will be a step forward towards the standardization of multidisciplinary data interchange procedures in the field of multidisciplinary aeronautic engineering as well as in the dissemination of data from numerical and experimental tests.

In summary, the joint activities of the AEROCHINA2 project will be of value for helping to achieve the goals of the research agenda in the European aeronautics sector in the next two decades. As clearly specified in the 2020 Vision report only "an integrated research approach can provide the basis for satisfying society's need and ensuring European leadership in the global aerospace market by 2020". Helping to build this integrated research scenario through a better cooperation between European and Chinese organizations in the solution of multidisciplinary problems in aeronautics via numerical and experimental methods and tests is one of the main goals of the AEROCHINA2 project.

The access to new and more powerful computational methods and experimental data will increase the job opportunities among skilled engineers. A training program will be needed to introduce engineers into the new multidisciplinary tools, which invariably will lead to the creation of new jobs.

Special effort in the AEROCHINA2 project will be put in the training of young engineers aiming to broaden the use of the multidisciplinary data among the aeronautics sector in Europe. This will contribute to building up the "knowledge society" that the European Union is now urgently seeking to achieve.

The successful development of the AEROCHINA2 project will open new opportunities for creating employment in a number of strategic lines. Thus, by having access to state of the art computational methods and software for a better design and production of aeronautic vehicles in a multidisciplinary environment, the need for skilled engineers will increase the demands for jobs. Similarly, new training and education programs will have to be implemented for developing the skills of practising and newly graduated aerospace engineers into the possibilities of the new methods for multidisciplinary design. This will also contribute to the preservation and creation of employment in Europe.

The interaction between partners from different organizations in Europe and China (aeronautics/aerospace industries, RTD centres, universities and international associations) will lead to an exchange of ideas and personnel which will help towards making more attractive the work in these fields.

The AEROCHINA2 data will also find application in markets different from the aeronautic sectors that also need the computational multi physics transport technologies (i.e. rotation machinery, civil construction, naval architecture, automotive industrial forming processes, etc.). Transfer of the AEROCHINA2 disseminated multi-physics technology to these sectors through adequate training actions (i.e. seminars, courses, workshops, conferences, publications, etc.) will help to create new attractive cooperative RTD scenarios and business opportunities for cooperation between different sectors and this will also contribute to the creation of new jobs.