Abstract:
A containment assembly for use in a turbine engine includes a fan case formed from a composite material. The fan case includes a forward end, an aft end, and an opening defined through the fan case between the forward and aft ends. The containment assembly further includes a structural attachment member formed from a metallic material and coupled to the fan case. The structural attachment member is positioned within the opening in the fan case and is configured to receive at least one fastener to couple a component to the structural attachment member.
Abstract:
A method is provided for forming a composite article to have a primary composite structure and an integral secondary composite structure that extends out of a plane defined by the primary composite structure. The method includes laying-up first plies to construct the primary composite structure. The first plies contain continuous reinforcement material and extend from a first zone that will define the primary composite structure into a second zone that will define the secondary composite structure. During laying-up of the first plies, additional plies are interleaved with the first plies within the second zone but not the first zone. The additional plies originate within a build-up zone between the first and second zones and extend therefrom into the second zone. After interleaving the plies, the build-up zone is deformed to orient the second zone and form the secondary composite structure that extends out of the plane defined by the continuous reinforcement material of the first plies.
Abstract:
Composite airfoil singlet, includes airfoil extending from base to tip of airfoil, integrally formed with no more than one outer platform at tip and/or no more than one inner platform at base. Parallel composite plies or woven fibers extend through airfoil and through outer and/or inner platforms. Outer and/or inner curved sections extend between outer and/or inner platforms and airfoil respectively. Assembly includes circular row of the composite airfoil singlets depending radially inwardly from and mounted to an outer shroud or casing. Outer and/or inner fasteners may secure outer and inner platforms to outer shroud or casing and an inner shroud respectively and include shanks extending substantially perpendicularly from outer and inner fastening plates though platform holes in outer and inner platforms and through outer and inner holes in outer shroud or casing and inner shroud respectively. Nuts are screwed on threaded ends of shanks.
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:
Composite hollow blade and an associated method of forming the composite hollow blade are disclosed. The method includes forming a core by fabricating a grid core structure based on a plurality of design parameters, where the grid core includes a plurality of first reinforcing components disposed in a first curable matrix material. The method further includes forming an outer layer including a plurality of second reinforcing components disposed in a second curable matrix material. Further, the method includes coupling the core to the outer layer and curing the core and the outer layer to form the composite hollow blade.
Abstract:
A containment assembly for use in a turbine engine includes a fan case formed from a composite material. The fan case includes a forward end, an aft end, and an opening defined through the fan case between the forward and aft ends. The containment assembly further includes a structural attachment member formed from a metallic material and coupled to the fan case. The structural attachment member is positioned within the opening in the fan case and is configured to receive at least one fastener to couple a component to the structural attachment member.
Abstract:
A composite panel structure and a method of fabricating the composite panel structure are provided. A fan assembly includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced about a fan disk. Each blade of the plurality of blades extends radially outwardly from the disk to a blade tip. A fan case assembly circumscribes the plurality of blades. The fan case assembly includes a radially outer casing including a radially inner side, an inner structure including an inner surface and a honeycomb layer extending along the radially inner side, and a composite panel structure including an inner surface and extending circumferentially along the inner structure inner surface. The composite panel structure includes short fiber tows extending only partially along at least one of a circumferential path, an axial path, and a diagonal path in the composite panel structure.
Abstract:
A fiber preform architecture and method of making, including a plurality of fiber bands. Each band of the plurality of fiber bands is placed at a time, at a predetermined position and orientation, to generate an interwoven and interlocking pattern between the fiber bands. Each of the plurality of fiber bands is formed of a plurality of fiber tows, positioned side by side at a predetermined spacing to define one or more gaps between each tow in the fiber band and define a secondary based interleaving within each of the fiber bands. The plurality of fiber bands are interwoven in an in-plane and out-of-plane orientation by interleaving each of the plurality of fiber bands with one or more of the plurality of fiber bands previously laid down and not in a common plane. The plurality of fiber bands include three or more different orientation angles and provide uniformity in coverage.
Abstract:
A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor is described as comprising a dome plate coupled to a liner thereof, with at least one heat shield comprised of a ceramic matrix composite coupled at the aft end of the dome plate. Also described is a method for assembling a combustor for a gas turbine engine, including releasing a metal alloy heat shield from a dome plate and providing a ceramic matrix composite heat shield as replacement.
Abstract:
An airfoil assembly and a method of forming the airfoil assembly, the airfoil assembly having a trunnion, a spar, and a set of inserts. The trunnion having a flared socket with an open top. The spar extending from the flared socket and through the open top. The spar having a first end located within the flared socket.