Composite Turbine Engine Component With Edge Cover Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engine components, particularly those made of composite materials, face challenges in withstanding mechanical stresses and external forces during operation, which can lead to damage without adequate reinforcement.
Innovation Solution
A composite structure is reinforced with a cover structure, which includes a main body and an extension that fits within a channel of the composite structure, providing additional strength and protection against operational forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If composite materials are used for turbine engine components, then weight is reduced and manufacturing flexibility is improved, but strength and resistance to mechanical stresses are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a hybrid composite structure combining composite material sections with metal reinforcement sections. The composite sections (e.g., carbon fiber reinforced polymer) provide weight reduction and manufacturing flexibility, while the metal sections (e.g., titanium or aluminum alloy) provide the necessary strength and mechanical stress resistance. This composite-of-composites approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different material properties to different sections of the same component. Critical areas subject to high mechanical stresses (such as blade roots, attachment points, or high-load zones) are reinforced with metal sections, while non-critical areas use lightweight composite materials. This local differentiation optimizes the overall structure by providing strength where needed and weight reduction where possible.
2Ease of manufacture
If composite materials are used for turbine engine components, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but reliability under operational forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid composite structure combines the manufacturing advantages of composite materials with the proven reliability of metal sections. The composite portions can be manufactured using advanced composite techniques (autoclave curing, resin transfer molding) for complex geometries, while metal sections provide reliable mechanical performance in critical areas. This integration maintains manufacturing flexibility while ensuring operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying metal reinforcement locally to critical areas, the invention ensures high reliability where mechanical stresses are most severe, while maintaining manufacturing flexibility in non-critical areas using composite materials. The metal sections are strategically placed at attachment points, blade roots, or high-load zones where reliability is paramount.
3Strength
If reinforcement is added to composite turbine components, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement is applied locally only where mechanically necessary, rather than uniformly throughout the entire component. This means metal sections are strategically positioned at critical stress points (blade roots, attachment areas, high-load zones) while the remainder of the component uses simpler composite construction. This local approach increases strength where needed without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The component is divided into distinct sections: composite material sections for general structure and metal reinforcement sections for critical areas. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently and facilitates modular manufacturing and assembly, reducing the overall complexity of producing and maintaining the hybrid structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An engine component for a turbine engine. The engine component has a composite structure and a cover structure. The composite structure has a composite structure outer wall, a composite structure edge, and a channel. The channel is provided along the composite structure edge. The cover encases at least a portion of the composite structure outer wall. The cover has a main body and an extension.