COMBUSTOR WALL CORE WITH RESONATOR AND / OR DAMPER ELEMENTS - Patent application

Abstract

The engine assembly includes a combustor wall with a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustically attenuating passage. The first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall. The second skin forms a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall. The core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin. The first resonator element includes a first base and a plurality of first projections projecting from the first base. Each first projection includes a first bore fluidly coupled with a first cavity in the first base. The acoustically attenuating passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled with the combustion volume through the attenuating passage opening in the first skin. The acoustically attenuating passage is fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 541,758, filed December 3, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to engines, and more particularly to sound-damping and / or vibration-damping structures for engines. [Background technology]

[0003] Ramjet or scramjet engines with rotating detonation or conventional combustors may generate high amplitude acoustic pressure signals, either standing waves or waves traveling in an upstream and / or downstream direction. Such acoustic pressure signals can adversely affect the operability of the engine. Vibrations from the acoustic pressure signals can also adversely affect the operation of engine electronics. Therefore, there is a need in the art to mitigate the effects of acoustic pressure signals in engines. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an assembly for an engine is provided. The engine assembly includes a combustor wall. The combustor wall includes a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustically attenuating passage. The first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall. The second skin forms a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall. The core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin. The resonator elements include a first resonator element. The first resonator element includes a first base and a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the first base. Each of the first protrusions includes a first bore fluidly coupled to a first cavity in the first base. The acoustically attenuating passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through an acoustically attenuating passage opening in the first skin. The acoustically attenuating passage is fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin.

[0005] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, another assembly for an engine is provided. The engine assembly includes a combustor wall. The combustor wall includes a first skin, a second skin, a core, and a passageway. The core is between the first skin and the second skin. The core includes a plurality of masses embedded within an elastic web. The elastic web is connected to the first skin and the second skin. The elastic web forms a network of open pores within the core. The elastic web is composed of or includes an elastic material different from the material of the masses. A passageway extends through the network of open pores to one or more passageway openings in the first skin. The elastic web forms a peripheral boundary of the passageway.

[0006] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, another assembly for an engine is provided. The engine assembly includes a combustor wall. The combustor wall includes a first skin, a second skin, a core, an acoustically attenuating passage, and a cooling passage. The first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall. The second skin forms a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall. The core includes a plurality of bodies configured as a porous interconnected matrix between the first skin and the second skin. The acoustically attenuating passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled with the attenuating passage openings in the first skin. The cooling passage extends through the core and is fluidly coupled with the first skin cooling passage openings in the first skin and the second skin cooling passage openings in the second skin. The cooling passage is fluidly isolated from the acoustically attenuating passages in the combustor wall.

[0007] The first of the bodies may include a first base and a plurality of first protrusions projecting from the first base, each of the first protrusions configured with a first bore fluidly coupled with the first cavity of the first base.

[0008] A first of the bodies may include a mass embedded in a resilient material.

[0009] The sound-attenuating passage may extend through the first bore in the first one of the first projections into the first cavity.

[0010] The first resonator element may form a peripheral boundary of an acoustically attenuating passage outside the first resonator element.

[0011] The combustor wall may also include a cooling passage extending into the core. The cooling passage may be fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a first skin cooling passage opening in the first skin. The cooling passage may be fluidly coupled to the plenum by a second skin cooling passage opening in the second skin.

[0012] The acoustically attenuating passage may extend into the first resonator element. The cooling passage may extend adjacent to and outside the first resonator element.

[0013] The cooling passage may extend within the first resonator element. The acoustically attenuating passage may extend adjacent to and outside the first resonator element.

[0014] The resonator element may also include a second resonator element including a second base. A second cavity in the second base may be fluidly coupled to the first cavity through the first bore in the second of the first protrusions. A first centerline of the first of the first protrusions may be parallel to a second centerline of the second of the first protrusions.

[0015] The resonator element may also include a second resonator element including a second base. A second cavity in the second base may be fluidly coupled to the first cavity through the first bore in the second one of the first protrusions. A first centerline of the first one of the first protrusions may be angularly offset from a second centerline of the second one of the first protrusions.

[0016] The resonator element may also include a second resonator element including a second base. A second cavity in the second base may be fluidly coupled to the first cavity through a first bore in a second one of the first protrusions. The first bore in the first one of the first protrusions has a first size. The first bore in the second one of the first protrusions has a second size, which may be different from (or equal to) the first size.

[0017] The combustor wall may also include a second sound-attenuating passage extending into the core. The second sound-attenuating passage may be fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a second sound-attenuating passage opening in the first skin. A length of the sound-attenuating passage in the combustor wall may be different from a length of the second sound-attenuating passage in the combustor wall.

[0018] The first resonator element may also include at least one of a second protrusion and the first protrusion projecting from the first base.

[0019] The first resonator element may also include a second protrusion that protrudes into the first bore of the first one of the first cavity and / or first protrusions.

[0020] The core may also include a plurality of damper elements between the first skin and the second skin. The damper elements may include a first damper element. The first damper element may include a first damper base and a plurality of first damper protrusions protruding from the first damper base. The first damper base may include a first mass and a first shell. The first mass may be within the first damper base and embedded within the first shell.

[0021] The first shell may form a peripheral boundary of the sound-attenuating passage outside the first damper element.

[0022] The first shell can be made of or can include a shell material. The first mass can be made of or can include a mass material. The shell material can be different from or the same as the mass material.

[0023] The damper element may also include a second damper element. The second damper element may include a second damper base and a plurality of second damper projections protruding from the second damper base. The second damper base may include a second mass and a second shell. The second mass may be within the second damper base and embedded within the second shell. The size of the first mass may be different from the size of the second mass.

[0024] The assembly may also include a combustor, which may include a combustor wall, and may be configured as a ramjet combustor or a scramjet combustor.

[0025] The core may extend partially along the first skin and / or the second skin.

[0026] The present disclosure may include any one or more of the individual features disclosed above and / or below, taken alone or in any combination thereof.

[0027] The foregoing features and operation of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a combustor wall. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall in an axial-radial plane. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall in a circumferential-radial plane. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a cellular core for a combustor wall. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a core body for a cellular core. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another core body for a cellular core. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall having acoustic attenuation and cooling passages disposed therein. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with an alternative arrangement of sound-attenuating passages and cooling passages. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with an alternative arrangement of sound-attenuating passages and cooling passages. [Figure 10] 10A-10C are partial cross-sectional views of combustor walls configured with various core body configurations. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structured core body and the substructures that form the core body. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structured core body and the substructures that form the core body. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structured core body and the substructures that form the core body. [Figure 14] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with yet another arrangement of sound-attenuating and cooling passages. [Figure 15A] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with sound-attenuating passages. [Figure 15B] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with axial cooling passages. [Figure 16A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a core body for a cellular core configured as a damper element. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view of the damper element of FIG. 16A. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cellular core with an arrangement of damper elements. [Figure 18] 10A-10C are cross-sectional views of cellular cores with alternative arrangements of damper elements with different mass sizes. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cellular core with yet another arrangement of damper elements to vary the pore size between the elements. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a cellular core configured with a resonator element structure and a damper element structure. [Figure 21A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with a cellular core arrangement. [Figure 21B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with a cellular core arrangement. [Figure 21C] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a combustor wall with a cellular core arrangement. [Figure 22] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a ramjet engine. [Figure 23] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a scramjet engine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] 1 illustrates a combustor wall 30 of a combustor of an internal combustion (IC) engine. For ease of explanation, the engine may be described below as a scramjet or ramjet engine for an aircraft propulsion system. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such an exemplary aircraft propulsion system engine, nor is it limited to aircraft propulsion system applications in general. For example, the engine may be configured as any type of engine in which fuel is continuously or periodically injected into a chamber or another internal volume (e.g., open space) for combustion.

[0030] The combustor wall 30 of FIG. 1 extends axially along an axial centerline 32 of the combustor wall 30, e.g., the axial centerline of the combustor and / or engine. The combustor wall 30 extends radially between a radially inner surface 34 of the combustor wall 30 and a radially outer surface 36 of the combustor wall 30. The combustor wall 30 extends circumferentially (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 32, e.g., providing the combustor wall 30 with a tubular body. Note that while FIG. 1 depicts the combustor wall 30 with a circular cross-sectional shape, the combustor wall 30 of the present invention may instead be configured with other non-circular cross-sectional shapes, such as an elliptical cross-sectional shape, a polygonal cross-sectional shape, etc. The combustor wall 30 of FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a combustor (e.g., hot side) inner skin 38, a combustor (e.g., cold side) outer skin 40, and a porous cellular core 42.

[0031] The inner skin 38 of Figures 2 and 3 forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume 44 (e.g., combustion chamber) within the combustor on an inner side 46 of the combustor wall 30. This inner side 46 may form a radially inner side 34 (see Figure 1) where the combustor wall 30 is configured as the radially outer wall of the combustor. The inner side 46 may alternatively form a radially outer side 36 (see Figure 1) where the combustor wall 30 is configured as the radially inner wall of the combustor. The inner side 38 of Figure 1 extends axially along the axial centerline 32. The inner side 38 of Figure 2 extends radially from the inner side 46 and its surfaces 34, 36 (see Figure 1) to the cellular core 42. The inner side 38 of Figure 3 (also see Figure 1) extends circumferentially (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 32.

[0032] The outer skin 40 of FIGS. 2 and 3 forms a peripheral boundary of a combustor plenum 48 (e.g., cooling cavity, diffuser, etc.) outside the combustor at an outer side 50 of the combustor wall 30. This outer side 50 may form a radially outer surface 36 (see FIG. 1) where the combustor wall 30 is configured as the radially outer wall of the combustor. The outer side 50 may alternatively form a radially inner surface 34 (see FIG. 1) where the combustor wall 30 is configured as the radially inner wall of the combustor. The outer skin 40 of FIG. 1 extends axially along the axial centerline 32. The outer skin 40 of FIG. 2 extends radially from the outer side 50 and its surfaces 38, 40 (see FIG. 1) to the cellular core 42. The outer skin 40 of FIG. 3 (also see FIG. 1) extends circumferentially (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 32.

[0033] The cellular core 42 in FIG. 1 extends axially along the axial centerline 32. The cellular core 42 extends circumferentially (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 32; see also FIG. 3. The cellular core 42 in FIGS. 2 and 3 extends radially between the inner skin 38 and the outer skin 40. The cellular core 42 may be connected to the inner skin 38 and / or the outer skin 40. For example, the cellular core 42 may be integrally formed with or attached to (e.g., welded, brazed, adhesively bonded, or otherwise joined to) the inner skin 38 and / or the outer skin 40.

[0034] The cellular core 42 of FIG. 2 has a radial thickness 52 that is substantially greater than the radial thickness 54 of the inner skin 38 and / or the radial thickness 56 of the outer skin 40. For example, the core thickness 52 is at least ten to forty times (10-40x) greater than the skin thicknesses 54, 56. However, the combustor wall 30 of the present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary dimensional relationships. For example, the core thickness 52 may be less than ten times (10x) or more than forty times (40x) the skin thicknesses 54, 56.

[0035] Referring to Figure 4, the cellular core 42 includes a plurality of core bodies 58 (e.g., core units) configured together to form a (e.g., three-dimensional (3D)) porous interconnected matrix 60 (e.g., a truss, web, grid, etc.). The core bodies 58 in Figure 4 are arranged axially side-by-side along the axial centerline 32, e.g., in one or more axially extending arrays 62A. The core bodies 58 in Figure 4 are arranged radially side-by-side in one or more radially extending arrays 62B. The core bodies 58 in Figure 4 are arranged laterally (e.g., circumferentially, tangentially, etc.) side-by-side around the axial centerline 32 in one or more laterally extending arrays 62C.

[0036] One or more or all of the core bodies 58 may each be configured as an acoustic resonator element 64. For example, with reference to Figure 5, each of the core bodies 58 includes a core body base 66 and one or more core body protrusions 68.

[0037] 6, the body base 66 may be configured as a hollow member of the respective core body 58. For example, the body base 66 of FIG. 6 is configured as a bulbous (e.g., generally spherical) shell that defines an interior body cavity 70 within the body base 66.

[0038] The body projections 68 are distributed around the body base 66 (see also FIG. 5 ). Each of the body projections 68 is connected to the body base 66 (e.g., integrally formed or otherwise adhered). Each of the body projections 68 projects from the body base 66 to a distal end 72 of the respective body projection 68. Each of the body projections 68 may be configured as a separate hollow member of the respective core body 58. For example, each of the body projections 68 in FIG. 6 is configured as a tube that defines an internal body bore 74 within the respective body projection 68. The body bore 74 is fluidly coupled to the body cavity 70 and projects longitudinally along a longitudinal centerline 76 of the respective body projection 68 and into (e.g., through) the respective body projection 68. One or more (or all) of the body projections 68 (e.g., 68O) may each be open-ended, with the body bore 74 extending longitudinally through the respective body projection 68. One or more of the body projections 68 (e.g., 68C) may each have a closed end with its body bore 74 extending partially longitudinally within the respective body projection 68. For example, each closed-end body projection 68C in FIG. 6 is configured with an end wall 78 that caps / closes its body bore 74.

[0039] 7 , each core body 58 may be connected (e.g., integrally formed or otherwise coupled) to one or more or all of its adjacent (e.g., axially adjacent, radially adjacent, and / or laterally adjacent) core bodies 58. One or more of the core bodies 58 may also be connected (e.g., integrally formed or otherwise coupled) to the inner skin 38 or the outer skin 40. For example, each of the body projections 68 may be aligned with and connected to the respective body projection 68 of an adjacent core body 58 or one of the combustor wall skins 38, 40.

[0040] The core body 58 is positioned to provide the cellular core 42 with one or more sound-attenuating passages 80. The core body 58 of Figure 7 may also be positioned to provide the cellular core 42 with at least one cooling passage 82.

[0041] Each of the sound-attenuating passages 80 extends within the cellular core 42 and is fluidly coupled with one or more sound-attenuating passage openings 84 (e.g., perforations, through-holes, etc.) in the inner skin 38, with each internal sound-attenuating passage opening 84 extending radially through the inner skin 38. Each of the sound-attenuating passages 80 is fluidly separated (decoupled, individualized, isolated, etc.) from the combustor plenum 48 by the outer skin 40. For example, each sound-attenuating passage 80 in FIG. 7 is formed by a respective one of the radially extending arrays 62B of the core body 58. More specifically, each sound-attenuating passage 80 in FIG. 7 includes a respective set of internal sound-attenuating passage openings 84 and the internal volumes 70 and 74 of the core body 58 in one of the radially extending arrays 62B. 7 extends radially into the combustor wall 30 through respective internal attenuation passage openings 84, then through the body cavities 70A-D to a solid, non-porous (e.g., unopened) portion 86 of the outer skin 40. The core body 58 can thereby form a peripheral boundary for each sound-attenuating passage 80 within the respective core body 58. Here, each sound-attenuating passage 80 is a blind passage in which the fluid (e.g., gas) exits the combustor wall 30 in a direction opposite to the direction in which it entered the combustor wall 30.

[0042] 7, each of the body projections 68O is open-ended and each of the body projections 68C is closed-ended. This results in the interior volumes 70 and 74 of the core body 58 being fluidly coupled to each other and to the interior attenuation passage opening 84, respectively. However, the interior volumes 70 and 74 are fluidly isolated (e.g., axially and / or laterally) from the surrounding interior volumes 70 and 74 of the core body 58 and from the interior core chamber 88 (e.g., plenum, cavity, etc.) surrounding the core body 58. Of course, various other sound-attenuating passage paths are possible within the cellular core 42, as described in more detail below.

[0043] The cooling passages 82 extend within the cellular core 42 and are fluidly coupled with one or more cooling passage openings 92 (e.g., perforations, through-holes, etc.) in the inner skin 38 and one or more cooling passage openings 94 (e.g., perforations, through-holes, etc.) in the outer skin 40, with each internal cooling passage opening 92 extending radially through the inner skin 38 and each external cooling passage opening 94 extending radially through the outer skin 40. For example, the cooling passages 82 in FIG. 7 are formed by disposing a core body 58 within the cellular core 42. More specifically, the cooling passages 82 in FIG. 7 include internal cooling passage openings 92, external cooling passage openings 94, and a core chamber 88 in which the core body 58 is disposed. For example, the cooling passages 82 in FIG. 7 extend radially into the combustor wall 30 via the external cooling passage openings 94, through the core chamber 88, and out of the combustor wall 30 via the internal cooling passage openings 92. This allows the core body 58 to form a peripheral boundary of the cooling passages 82 outside the core body 58 .

[0044] The combustor wall 30 described above is configured with a single core chamber 88 and, therefore, a single passageway (e.g., cooling passageway 82) formed by the core chamber 88. However, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that the core chamber 88 may be divided into multiple subchambers via one or more dividers (e.g., baffles, walls, etc.). In such an arrangement, each of the subchambers may be part of a separate passageway (e.g., cooling passageway 82).

[0045] During operation, each fluidly coupled set of internal volumes 70 and 74 can operate as one or more resonating chambers for attenuating sound. For example, sound waves propagating through the combustion volume 44 may enter each sound-attenuating passage 80 through the respective internal attenuation passage openings 84. Some of these sound waves may travel through the internal volumes 70 and 74 in sequence to the outer skin 40. These sound waves may be reflected by the outer skin 40 and return to the combustion volume 44 through the internal volumes 70 and 74 and their respective internal attenuation passage openings 84, where the reflected sound waves may destructively interfere with other sound waves propagating within the combustion volume 44. Some of the sound waves may also be reflected by one of the core bodies 58 along the passages 80 before reaching the outer skin 40. The cellular core 42 can thereby be tuned to attenuate sound frequency ranges. More specifically, the cellular core 42 can be configured as a multi-degree of freedom (MDOF) damping structure, such as the four-degree of freedom damping structure of FIG. 7. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary multi-degree-of-freedom damping structures.

[0046] Cooling air is also channeled through the cooling passages 82 to cool the combustor wall 30. For example, external cooling passage openings 94 channel cooling air from the combustor plenum 48 into the cooling passages 82. Within the cooling passages 82, the cooling air impinges on and flows around the core body 58, cooling it. Internal cooling passage openings 92 then channel the cooling air out of the cooling passages 82 and into the combustion volume 44. The flow of cooling air across the inner skin 38 can cool the inner skin 38 by convection. The cooling air channeled into the combustion volume 44 can also form a thin film of cooling air along the inner side 46. This film further cools the combustor wall 30 and its inner skin 38 and provides a protective barrier between the combustion gases in the combustion volume 44 and the inner skin 38.

[0047] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 7 , the centerlines 76 of the body bores 74 along a common (same) sound-attenuating passage 80 may be parallel to one another (e.g., coaxial). This arrangement allows sound waves to travel along a linear trajectory through the core body 58 along the sound-attenuating passage 80. In other embodiments, referring to FIG. 8 , the centerlines 76 of some of the body bores 74 along a common (same) sound-attenuating passage 80 may be angularly offset from one another (e.g., perpendicular to one another). This arrangement allows sound waves to travel along a non-linear (e.g., curved, twisted) trajectory through the core body 58 along the sound-attenuating passage 80.

[0048] In some embodiments, with reference to Figure 7, one or more or all of the sound-attenuating passages 80 may extend substantially or only radially within the combustor wall 30 and its cellular core 42, respectively. In other embodiments, with reference to Figures 8 and 9, one or more or all of the sound-attenuating passages 80 may extend further axially and / or laterally within the combustor wall 30 and its cellular core 42, respectively. Such an arrangement allows the combustor wall 30 to be tuned to attenuate relatively higher frequency sounds without correspondingly increasing the overall thickness of the combustor wall 30.

[0049] In some embodiments, with reference to Figure 7, one or more or all of the sound-attenuating passages 80 may each be a dead-end passage. For example, sound waves may enter and exit the combustor wall 30 through a common (same) internal attenuating passage opening 84 and body bore 74. In other embodiments, with reference to Figure 8, one or more or all of the sound-attenuating passages 80 may each be a through passage. For example, sound waves may enter and exit the combustor wall 30 through different internal attenuating passage openings 84 and body bores 74.

[0050] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 7 , the size 96 of the body bore 74 of each body protrusion 68 along the common (same) sound-attenuating passage 80 may be equal. This size 96 may be measured, for example, as the width (e.g., diameter) of each body bore 74 at the choke point of that body bore 74, e.g., the smallest width of each body bore 74. In other embodiments, referring to FIG. 10 , the size 96 of the body bore 74 of one body protrusion 68 may be different from the size 96 of the body bore 74 of another body protrusion 68 along the common (same) sound-attenuating passage 80. For example, the bore size 96 may decrease as the sound-attenuating passage 80 extends deeper into the cellular core 42. Such an arrangement may correspond to a decrease in flow velocity (e.g., acoustic particle velocity) along each sound-attenuating passage 80. The size of the body protrusions may also facilitate control of the acoustic response in the presence of grazing mean flow and / or high-amplitude sound waves.

[0051] In some embodiments, with reference to Figure 7, one or more or all of the sound-attenuating passages 80 may each be configured with a common (same) longitudinal length within the cellular core 42. In other embodiments, with reference to Figure 9, some or all of the sound-attenuating passages 80 may each be configured with different longitudinal lengths within the cellular core 42.

[0052] In some embodiments, with reference to Figure 5, one or more or each of core bodies 58 may be configured as a Schwartz P body. For example, the exterior of each core body may form a Schwartz P surface. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary configurations; see, for example, Figures 11-13.

[0053] In some embodiments, with reference to FIGS. 11-13 , one or more or all of the core bodies 58 may also each include one or more structural protrusions 96, such as walls, baffles, flanges, stiffeners, ribs, etc. These structural protrusions 96 may be configured to increase the structural rigidity and / or strength of the respective core body 58, and more generally, the cellular core 42. The structural protrusions 96 may also be configured, or alternatively configured, to further tailor the acoustic and / or cooling characteristics of the cellular core 42. Some of the structural protrusions 96 may be located externally of the respective core body 58. For example, each structural protrusion 96 of FIGS. 11-13 is connected to and protrudes from one or more of the body base 66 and / or body protrusions 68. With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 , some of the structural protrusions 96 may be located internally of the respective core body 58, or alternatively, may be located internally. For example, each structural projection 96 of FIGS. 12 and 13 projects (eg, partially or completely) into one or more of the cavity 70 (see FIG. 6) and / or bore 74.

[0054] The sound-attenuating passages 80 are described above as extending into / through the core body 58, and the cooling passage(s) 82 are described above as extending through the core chamber 88. However, in other embodiments, the arrangement of the passages 80 and 82 may be reversed, with the sound-attenuating passages 80 extending through the core chamber 88 and the cooling passages 82 extending through the core body 58 (see, for example, FIG. 14 ).

[0055] In some embodiments, with reference to Figure 15A, the cooling passage(s) 82 may be omitted. For example, the core chamber 88 of Figure 15A may be configured to provide a separate acoustic attenuation passage 80. In other embodiments, with reference to Figure 15B, one or more or all of the attenuation passage openings 84 leading to the core chamber 88 may be omitted. With such an arrangement, at least a portion or all of the core chamber 88 may provide the cooling passages 82 that extend axially (horizontally in Figure 15B) to the combustor wall 30.

[0056] In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B , one or more or all of the core bodies 58 may instead be configured as solid bodies. For example, the core body 58 of FIG. 16B is configured as a damper element 98. The core body 58 of FIG. 16B more specifically includes a mass 100 and a shell 102. The mass 100 is embedded (e.g., completely) within the shell 102. The mass 100 is disposed within the body base 66. Referring to FIG. 17 , the shell 102 forms a web 104 having a network of open pores 106. Referring again to FIG. 16B , the shell 102 forms an outer portion of the body base 66 around (e.g., envelops) the mass 100. The shell 102 also forms one or more or all of the body protrusions 68, e.g., solid protrusions. The shell 102 may be formed from a different material than the mass 100. For example, the shell 102 may be formed from the same material as the mass 100, or may be formed from a different material that has lower material stiffness. This arrangement allows the core body 58 to form a vibration damper within the combustor wall 30.

[0057] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 17, the size 108 of some or all of the masses 100 in the core body 58 may be uniform (the same). This size 108 may be measured as the width (e.g., diameter) of each body mass 100. In other embodiments, referring to Figure 18, the mass size 108 of one or more of the core bodies 58 may be different from the mass size 108 of one or more other core bodies 58. Such differences in mass size 108 may allow the vibration damping characteristics of the cellular core 42 to be tailored.

[0058] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 17 , the size 110 of the pores 106 (e.g., gaps, pores, etc.) formed between each cluster of the core body 58 may be uniform (the same). This size 110 may be measured, for example, as the width (e.g., diameter) of each pore 106 at a choke point through that pore 106, e.g., the smallest width of each pore 106. In other embodiments, referring to FIG. 19 , the pore size 110 associated with one or more clusters of the core body 58 may be different from the pore size 110 of one or more other clusters of the core body 58. Such a difference in pore size 110 may allow for tailored acoustic attenuation, for example, as described above with respect to FIG. 10 .

[0059] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 20, the cellular core 42 can include multiple core structures. For example, the cellular core 42 of Figure 20 includes a first structure 112 of resonator elements 64 and a second structure 114 of damper elements 98, with the resonator elements 64 interspersed / interspersed with / interspersed with the damper elements 98, and the damper elements 98 interspersed / interspersed with / interspersed with the resonator elements 64. However, one or more or all of the damper elements 98 may be spaced apart and isolated (e.g., not in contact with or directly connected to) one or more or all of the adjacent resonator elements 64, respectively. This arrangement allows the mass 100 to vibrate freely, thereby damping vibrations.

[0060] In some embodiments, any one or more or all of the volumes (e.g., 70, 74, 88, and / or 106) within the cellular core 42 may each be empty. In other embodiments, any one or more or all of the volumes (e.g., 70, 74, 88, and / or 106) within the cellular core may each be at least partially or completely filled with another material, such as a porous material such as open-cell foam.

[0061] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 21A , the cellular core 42 can extend entirely along the inner skin 38 and / or the outer skin 40. For example, the cellular core 42 in FIG. 21A spans the entire periphery of the axial centerline 32. In other embodiments, referring to FIGS. 21B and 21C , the cellular core 42 may extend partially along the inner skin 38 and / or the outer skin 40. For example, the combustor wall 30 in FIGS. 21B and 21C includes one or more cellular cores 42 arranged in an array. The cellular cores 42 in FIGS. 21B and 21C are distributed circumferentially around the axial centerline 32, with each cellular core 42 spaced (e.g., circumferentially) from an adjacent cellular core 42. The gap may be an empty volume or may be filled with another structure or material.

[0062] FIG. 22 illustrates a ramjet engine 116 with an annular ramjet combustor 118. The combustor 118 may be configured with one or more of the combustor walls 30 described above to define its combustion volume 44. During operation, air enters the ramjet engine 116 at supersonic speeds. The air is compressed and accelerated by a convergent compressor section 120. The compressed air is then diverged and slowed to subsonic speeds before entering the combustor 118 and its combustion volume 44. The compressed air is mixed with fuel. The fuel-air mixture is ignited, and the products of combustion are accelerated back to supersonic speeds through a convergent-divergent nozzle 122 before exiting the ramjet engine 116 to provide forward engine thrust.

[0063] FIG. 23 illustrates a scramjet engine 124 with an annular scramjet combustor 126. The combustor 126 may be configured with one or more of the combustor walls 30 described above to define its combustion volume 44. During operation, air enters the scramjet engine 124 at supersonic speeds. The air is compressed and accelerated by a convergent compressor section 128. The compressed air is slowed to a lower supersonic speed before entering the combustor 126 and its combustion volume 44. The compressed air is mixed with fuel. The fuel-air mixture is ignited, and the products of combustion exit the scramjet engine 124 at supersonic speeds, providing forward engine thrust.

[0064] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure described herein includes several aspects and embodiments that include specific features. These features may be described individually, but are within the scope of the present disclosure; some or all of these features may be combined with any one of the aspects and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be limited except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. An assembly for an engine, comprising: A combustor wall including a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustic attenuation passage Including, the first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall; the second skin defines a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall; the core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin, the plurality of resonator elements including a first resonator element, the first resonator element including a first base and a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the first base, each of the plurality of first protrusions including a first bore fluidly coupled to a first cavity in the first base; the acoustic attenuation passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a attenuation passage opening in the first skin, the acoustic attenuation passage being fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin; the combustor wall further includes a cooling passage extending into the core; the cooling passage is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a first skin cooling passage opening in the first skin; the cooling passage is fluidly coupled to the plenum by a second skin cooling passage opening in the second skin; the acoustically attenuating passage extends into the first resonator element; the cooling passage extends adjacent to and outside the first resonator element; Assembly for engine.

2. the sound-attenuating passage extends through the first bore of a first one of the plurality of first projections into the first cavity; The assembly of claim 1 .

3. the first resonator element forms a peripheral boundary of the sound-attenuating passage outside the first resonator element; The assembly of claim 1 .

4. An assembly for an engine, comprising: A combustor wall including a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustic attenuation passage Including, the first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall; the second skin defines a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall; the core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin, the plurality of resonator elements including a first resonator element, the first resonator element including a first base and a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the first base, each of the plurality of first protrusions including a first bore fluidly coupled to a first cavity in the first base; the acoustic attenuation passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a attenuation passage opening in the first skin, the acoustic attenuation passage being fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin; the combustor wall further includes a cooling passage extending into the core; the cooling passage is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a first skin cooling passage opening in the first skin; the cooling passage is fluidly coupled to the plenum by a second skin cooling passage opening in the second skin; the cooling passage extends into the first resonator element; the acoustically attenuating passage extends adjacent to and outside the first resonator element; assembly.

5. the plurality of resonator elements further includes a second resonator element including a second base; a second cavity in the second base fluidly coupled to the first cavity through the first bore of a second one of the plurality of first projections; a first centerline of the first one of the plurality of first protrusions is parallel to a second centerline of the second one of the plurality of first protrusions; Assembly according to claim 1 or 4.

6. An assembly for an engine, comprising: A combustor wall including a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustic attenuation passage Including, the first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall; the second skin defines a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall; the core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin, the plurality of resonator elements including a first resonator element, the first resonator element including a first base and a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the first base, each of the plurality of first protrusions including a first bore fluidly coupled to a first cavity in the first base; the acoustic attenuation passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a attenuation passage opening in the first skin, the acoustic attenuation passage being fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin; the plurality of resonator elements further includes a second resonator element including a second base; a second cavity in the second base fluidly coupled to the first cavity through the first bore of a second one of the plurality of first projections; a first centerline of the first one of the plurality of first protrusions is angularly offset from a second centerline of the second one of the plurality of first protrusions; assembly.

7. the plurality of resonator elements further includes a second resonator element including a second base; a second cavity in the second base fluidly coupled to the first cavity through the first bore of a second one of the plurality of first projections; the first bore of the first one of the plurality of first protrusions has a first size; the first bore of the second one of the plurality of first projections has a second size different from the first size; Assembly according to claim 1 or 4.

8. the combustor wall further includes a second sound-attenuating passage extending into the core; the second acoustic attenuation passage is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a second acoustic attenuation passage opening in the first skin; a length of the sound-attenuating passage in the combustor wall that is different from a length of the second sound-attenuating passage in the combustor wall; Assembly according to any one of claims 1, 4 and 6.

9. the first resonator element further includes a second protrusion protruding from the first base and at least one of the plurality of first protrusions; Assembly according to any one of claims 1, 4 and 6.

10. An assembly for an engine, comprising: A combustor wall including a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustic attenuation passage Including, the first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall; the second skin defines a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall; the core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin, the plurality of resonator elements including a first resonator element, the first resonator element including a first base and a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the first base, each of the plurality of first protrusions including a first bore fluidly coupled to a first cavity in the first base; the acoustic attenuation passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a attenuation passage opening in the first skin, the acoustic attenuation passage being fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin; the first resonator element the first cavity, or the first bore of a first one of the plurality of first projections a second protrusion projecting into at least one of assembly.

11. An assembly for an engine, comprising: A combustor wall including a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an acoustic attenuation passage Including, the first skin forms a peripheral boundary of a combustion volume on a first side of the combustor wall; the second skin defines a peripheral boundary of a plenum on a second side of the combustor wall; the core includes a plurality of resonator elements between the first skin and the second skin, the plurality of resonator elements including a first resonator element, the first resonator element including a first base and a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the first base, each of the plurality of first protrusions including a first bore fluidly coupled to a first cavity in the first base; the acoustic attenuation passage extends into the core and is fluidly coupled to the combustion volume through a attenuation passage opening in the first skin, the acoustic attenuation passage being fluidly separated from the plenum by the second skin; the core further includes a plurality of damper elements between the first skin and the second skin, the plurality of damper elements including a first damper element; the first damper element includes a first damper base and a plurality of first damper protrusions protruding from the first damper base; the first damper base is configured to include a first mass and a first shell, the first mass being within the first damper base and embedded within the first shell; assembly.

12. the first shell forms a peripheral boundary of the sound-attenuating passage outside the first damper element; 12. The assembly of claim 11.

13. the plurality of damper elements further includes a second damper element; the second damper element includes a second damper base and a plurality of second damper protrusions protruding from the second damper base; the second damper base is configured to include a second mass and a second shell, the second mass being within the second damper base and embedded within the second shell; The size of the first square is different from the size of the second square.

12. The assembly of claim 11.

14. the core extends partially along at least one of the first skin or the second skin; Assembly according to any one of claims 1, 4, 6, 10 and 11.

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