Abstract:
A hybrid metal and composite spool includes metal rings on an outer diameter of a composite spool shell. Metal rings may include features such as annular or axial dovetail slots. Adhesive layers may be between the metal rings and composite shell which may be connected by a shrink bonded joint. The metal rings may include a single seal tooth ring with an annular radially extending seal tooth. A method for fabricating the spool may include fabricating one or more metal rings with the features therein, positioning the metal rings in place on an outer surface of an uncured composite spool shell of the spool before curing the shell, and curing the shell with the one or more metal rings positioned in place. Alternatively, rings may be heated to a temperature at least sufficient to slide rings over a cured composite shell, and allowed to cool and shrink onto shell.
Abstract:
A composite article including composite component extending heightwise from a component base to a component tip and lengthwise between spaced apart component first and second edges. Component plies having widthwise spaced apart ply first and second sides and ply edges therebetween. Component mounted on a spar which includes a shank extending heightwise into the composite component, tab at upper end of shank and substantially or fully embedded in the composite component, and tab tip. Ply edges of at least a first portion of the plies directly or indirectly contacting or pressing against the tab. Ply edges of at least a second portion of the plies may directly or indirectly contact or press against the tab tip. Ply edges of first portion may press against one or more indented or recessed surfaces in the tab. The composite article may be a composite blade or vane including a composite airfoil.
Abstract:
A composite blade assembly and a method of assembling a composite blade are provided. The composite blade assembly includes a composite blade having a radially inner root. A composite blade assembly includes a first platform and a circumferentially adjacent second platform abutting the first platform at a platform joint. Each of the first platform and the second platform includes a radially outer surface and a radially inwardly extending attachment member. The platform joint includes a slot extending through adjacent edges of the first platform and the second platform. The slot is configured to receive the radially inner root and the radially inner root is configured to be sandwiched between the attachment members. The blade assembly includes an adhesive system configured to join the radially inner root of the composite blade and the attachment members into a unitary structure, and a retaining clip configured to bias the attachment members towards each other.
Abstract:
Described are a gas turbine engine fan blade platform, related rotor assembly and gas turbine engine, as well as a method of assembling the same. The platform has a forward portion proximal to an axis of rotation, an aft portion, and a transition portion between the forward and aft portions. The forward portion has a forward interface surface facing axially forward, the aft portion has an aft interface surface facing radially outward, and the transition portion has at least one mounting feature. For the method of assembly, an aft support is installed on a fan disk and booster spool assembly. A plurality of fan blades are installed into a fan disk, followed by installing a fan platform between adjacent blades and securing the mounting features to the disk, thereby filling the annulus of the fan disk. Finally, a forward support is installed on the fan disk.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine spinner assembly including a spinner defining at least in part an aerodynamically smooth surface, a shell defining at least in part the aerodynamically smooth surface, and circumferentially spaced apart removable aerodynamic fairings located around the shell. Fairing shanks disposed in circumferentially spaced apart axially extending slots in the shell may be attached to the aerodynamic fairings. The fairings may shield radially extending portions of the fan blades including portions of blade shanks or portions of transition regions of the blade shanks. The fairing shanks may be disposed between and monolithically formed with the fairings and fairing roots attached to the fairing shanks. The fairings may be made of an injectable thermoplastic and the shell made of metal. The fairing shanks may be setback from fairing forward tips and the fairing shanks may be setback from root forward tips of the fairing roots.
Abstract:
A composite article including composite component mounted on a spar including a shank extending heightwise from below component base up into composite component. Tab at an upper end of shank substantially or fully embedded in the composite component and at least one ply surface pattern of the composite component contacting and generally conforming to at least one spar surface pattern on the tab.Spar surface pattern may include spaced apart spar surface protrusions with spar surface spaces therebetween and spar surface protrusions extending outwardly from spar and disposed between tows in ply surface pattern. Tows may be layed up in spar surface spaces. Spar surface pattern may include continuous or segmented spaced spar surface protrusions and spar surface spaces therebetween with tows in ply surface pattern disposed in spar surface spaces. The composite article may be a composite blade or vane including a composite airfoil.
Abstract:
A turbine engine with an engine core defining an engine centerline and comprising a rotor assembly and a stator assembly. The turbine engine including a primary stage of airfoils circumferentially arranged about the engine centerline and defining at least a portion of the rotor assembly. A subsidiary stage of airfoils located upstream of the primary stage of airfoils and circumferentially arranged about the engine centerline.
Abstract:
A method of forming a composite airfoil assembly. The method includes forming an inner support structure with at least a first core and a second core each having a core material with at least one of fibers, yarns, braids, or tows. The method includes applying a laminate overlay to surround at least a portion of the inner support structure.
Abstract:
A turbine engine including a fan section, a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The turbine engine further including a composite airfoil assembly. The composite airfoil assembly having an outer wall, a composite body at least partially defining the outer wall, and a tip cap at least partially defining the outer wall.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine includes a fan section, a compressor section, combustion section, and turbine section in serial flow arrangement, that defining an engine centerline extending between a forward direction and an aft direction. A composite component, such as an airfoil, extends between a root and a tip, defining a span-wise direction therebetween, and between a leading edge and a trailing edge, defining a chord-wise direction therebetween. The composite component includes a preform core including a first set of fibers as a first set of warp fibers and a first set of weft fibers.