Angled Wire Seal Groove Reduces Hoop Stress in Gas Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire seal grooves in gas turbine engines suffer from fluid leakage due to gaps between airfoil platforms and mounting structures, leading to undesirable pressure loss, and prior designs lack effective stress relief and material efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wire seal groove with an angled downstream sidewall, positioned at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°, which reduces material usage and provides stress relief, while accommodating a split ring wire seal to minimize migration and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional wire seal grooves are used with radial sidewalls, then manufacturing is simple, but hoop stress is high and wire seal migration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The groove geometry transitions from symmetric radial sidewalls to an asymmetric configuration with a downstream sidewall angled between 10-45 degrees relative to the radial direction. This asymmetry creates a wedge-shaped stress distribution that reduces peak hoop stress concentrations while providing mechanical engagement features that prevent wire seal migration axially and radially.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove design applies different wall angles at different locations: the downstream sidewall is angled to reduce hoop stress, while the upstream sidewall remains substantially radial to maintain proper wire seal positioning. This localized differentiation of geometric properties optimizes both stress reduction and migration prevention functions.
2Reliability
If wire seal groove accommodates radial expansion, then sealing effectiveness is maintained, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove geometry is designed to dynamically accommodate wire seal expansion during operation. The angled downstream sidewall allows the wire seal to expand radially into the groove while the upstream radial sidewall maintains positioning. This dynamic geometric accommodation ensures continuous sealing contact without requiring excessive material removal.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If wire seal migration is prevented, then sealing durability improves, but groove geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The groove geometry incorporates preliminary anti-migration features through its asymmetric configuration. The angled downstream sidewall and upstream radial sidewall create geometric constraints that proactively prevent axial and radial migration before they can occur during operation, rather than requiring additional active restraint mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The angled wire seal groove effectively reduces hoop stress, prevents wire seal migration, and maintains sealing efficiency by allowing radial expansion while minimizing material usage and leakage paths.
Implementation Method 1
allowing radial expansion while minimizing material usage and leakage paths
Implementation Method 2
The angled wire seal groove effectively reduces hoop stress, prevents wire seal migration
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly for use in a gas turbine engine having a disk arranged relative to an axis, the assembly including a circumferential groove defined in the disk and an annular wire seal positioned at least partially within the groove. The groove includes a first sidewall, a base portion adjoining the first sidewall, and a second sidewall adjoining the base portion opposite the first sidewall, wherein the second sidewall is angled in a range greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to the axis.