Abstract:
A fan blade for a turbine system includes a root portion connectable to a rotating member of a turbine system and airfoil portion having a morphable portion on an edge of the airfoil portion. The morphable portion includes a plurality of layers aligned unsymmetrically relative to each other in a thickness direction and changes in shape in response to a change in a speed of the airfoil portion.
Abstract:
In one aspect, a method for assembling an outlet guide vane is provided. The method includes providing an outlet guide vane frame having a first side and a second side. The outlet guide vane includes a radially inward flange coupled to a radially outward flange by a leading edge. A trailing edge is coupled to the radially inward flange and the radially outward flange aft of the leading edge. A cavity is defined between the radially inward flange, the radially outward flange, the leading edge, and the trailing edge. A first and a second mating surface circumscribe the cavity on the first and second sides respectively. The method further includes coupling a filler portion within the cavity wherein the filler portion includes a third side and a fourth side, coupling a first skin to the third side and the first mating surface, and coupling a second skin to the fourth side and the second mating surface, wherein at least one of the first skin and the second skin are fabricated from a composite material.
Abstract:
A method of detecting an event in a structure using a device having sensors and at least one actuator includes sending a signal from the at least one actuator encapsulated in the device, returning a reflected wave signal from the event to each of the sensors in the device, determining a respective duration of time for which the signal travels from the event to each of the sensors, and calculating a location of the event by using differences in the respective durations of time for which the signal travels from the event to each of the sensors to determine an angle and a distance at which the event is positioned.
Abstract:
An airfoil, a fan assembly and an engine include at least one airfoil including a root portion, a body portion and a tip portion. The body portion is configured extending radially outward from the root portion and the tip portion is configured extending radially outward from the root portion and the body portion. The airfoil including a suction and a pressure side coupled together at a leading and a trailing edge and extending therebetween. The airfoil including a compliant tip at the tip portion. The compliant tip extending along at least a portion of the tip portion in a chord-wise direction and a span-wise direction. The compliant tip is configured to provide wave propagation along the tip portion such that critical strain proximate the tip portion and the trailing edge is reduced during a foreign object impact.
Abstract:
An airfoil of a first parent material and a second wrap material wherein the parent and wrap materials are of at least partially different materials and wherein an interlock region is formed between the parent and wrap materials having an interlock feature.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine airfoil includes leading and trailing edges, pressure and suction sides extending from airfoil base to airfoil tip, trailing edge cladding made of cladding material bonded to composite core made of composite material, cladding material less brittle than composite material, composite core including central core portion extending downstream from leading edge portion to trailing edge portion of composite core, and trailing edge cladding including wavy wall and trailing edge. Pressure and suction side flanks of trailing edge cladding may be bonded to pressure and suction side surfaces of trailing edge portion. Waves of wavy wall may extend normal to and away from the pressure and suction side surfaces. Trailing edge cladding may include wavy pressure and suction side trailing edge guards including waves of wavy wall. Airfoil may extend outwardly from platform of a blade. Root may include integral dovetail.
Abstract:
A method for applying texture to an aerodynamic surface is provided. A master plate is provided having a textured surface. A first material is then applied to that surface and cured forming a caul sheet with a negative impression of the master plate textured surface. A surface to which a texture is to be applied is then provided; this may be an aerodynamic surface. Another material, different from the first, is then applied to the aerodynamic surface and the caul sheet is placed on top. The second material is cured and the caul sheet is removed. The second material is adhered to the aerodynamic surface and has a surface that is substantially a negative impression of the caul sheet textured surface and substantially similar to the master plate textured surface.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine airfoil includes leading and trailing edges, pressure and suction sides extending from airfoil base to airfoil tip, trailing edge cladding made of cladding material bonded to composite core made of composite material, cladding material less brittle than composite material, composite core including central core portion extending downstream from leading edge portion to trailing edge portion of composite core, and trailing edge cladding including wavy wall and trailing edge. Pressure and suction side flanks of trailing edge cladding may be bonded to pressure and suction side surfaces of trailing edge portion. Waves of wavy wall may extend normal to and away from the pressure and suction side surfaces. Trailing edge cladding may include wavy pressure and suction side trailing edge guards including waves of wavy wall. Airfoil may extend outwardly from platform of a blade. Root may include integral dovetail.
Abstract:
A composite structure includes: a core having a pair of opposed exterior surfaces and having a first density; a composite layup surrounding the core, the composite layup comprising a plurality of layers of fibers embedded in a matrix and extending along the exterior surfaces of the core, the composite layup having a second density; and stitching comprising fibers extending through the core and at least a portion of the composite layup.
Abstract:
A composite material includes a composite body having a composite surface, and a reinforcing element extending through the composite body in a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of stitches. The first plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially similarly to each other. The second plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially dissimilarly to each other.