CMC Vane Arc Segments with Single-Sided Platforms for Stress Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials in gas turbine engine airfoils faces challenges due to thermal gradients, interlaminar stresses, and complex attachment issues, which are not effectively addressed by traditional metallic vane attachment features.
Innovation Solution
The use of CMC vane arc segments with single-sided platforms that facilitate easier fabrication, increased load-carrying capacity, and improved stress management through features like single-sided platforms, interlocking mechanisms, and prefabricated multiplet units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional metallic vane attachment features are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but thermal gradient and interlaminar stress resistance are insufficient for CMC materials
Solution Approach 1:
The vane is divided into multiple arc segments that can be assembled together, with each segment having simplified attachment features. This segmentation allows the use of simpler attachment mechanisms while maintaining overall structural integrity and stress resistance for CMC materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment features are designed with asymmetric single-sided platforms rather than symmetric double-sided platforms. This asymmetric design reduces manufacturing complexity while providing sufficient load-carrying capacity and stress resistance for the CMC vane structure.
2Strength
If double-sided platforms are used, then load-carrying capacity is increased, but manufacturing complexity and fabrication difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design transitions from symmetric double-sided platforms to asymmetric single-sided platforms. This asymmetric design maintains adequate load-carrying capacity while significantly simplifying the fabrication process for CMC arc segments, as fewer complex features need to be manufactured.
Solution Approach 2:
One side of the platform structure is removed or simplified, extracting only the essential load-carrying functionality needed while eliminating the redundant second side. This reduction in structural complexity directly improves ease of manufacture while preserving sufficient strength.
3Temperature
If CMC materials are implemented, then temperature resistance is improved, but attachment and assembly challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The CMC vane is segmented into multiple arc segments with simplified attachment features, making assembly more manageable while maintaining the high temperature resistance properties of the CMC material throughout the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment feature geometry is changed from traditional metallic vane designs to configurations optimized for CMC materials, such as single-sided platforms with reduced complexity, enabling easier assembly while preserving temperature resistance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) vane arc segments (160) that are arranged in a circumferential row. Each of the CMC vane arc segments (160) includes an airfoil section that defines first and second side walls (64, 66), leading and trailing ends, and first and second radial ends. At the first radial end, the airfoil section has a single-sided platform (74) and the second side wall (66) has a bearing surface (78; 178). The single-sided platform (74) of each of the CMC vane arc segments (160) in the circumferential row is situated to bear against the bearing surface (78) of the next of the CMC vane arc segments (160) in the circumferential row.