Composite Turbine Blade Reinforcing Sheet for Rigidity and Mass Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engine blades face challenges in achieving optimal rigidity, mass reduction, cost efficiency, and geometry optimization while maintaining mechanical and thermal resistance, particularly due to limitations in impact resistance and overall rigidity from existing reinforcement methods.
Innovation Solution
A composite blade design featuring a reinforcing sheet with constant thickness extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, integrated within the blade's body, which forms the intrados and extrados surfaces, and is made of different materials such as metallic reinforcement and polymer-filled fibers, enhancing structural integrity and lightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal reinforcement is added to the blade, then the rigidity and impact resistance improve, but the mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a metal reinforcing sheet with a polymer matrix composite body. The metal sheet provides rigidity and structural support, while the polymer composite maintains lightness. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating two materials with complementary properties - the metal reinforcement delivers the needed strength without requiring a solid metal blade, thus avoiding excessive mass increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing sheet is strategically placed at the leading edge where mechanical stress and impact forces are most intense. This localized reinforcement provides maximum rigidity where needed while keeping the rest of the blade lightweight. The sheet extends through the body thickness at the leading edge but does not require full-blade metal construction, optimizing the strength-to-weight ratio.
2Reliability
If skins are added to external surfaces for protection, then the erosion resistance improves, but the mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the metal reinforcing sheet within the polymer matrix composite body, nesting the reinforcement inside the blade structure rather than adding external skins. The sheet passes through the body thickness and is integrated into the blade's internal architecture. This nested configuration provides protection and rigidity without adding external layers that would increase mass and alter the blade's external aerodynamic geometry.
3Strength
If a thick leading edge reinforcement is used, then the impact resistance improves, but the geometry optimization and mass are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin metal sheet as the reinforcing element rather than a thick reinforcement structure. The sheet has sufficient strength to provide impact resistance while maintaining a thin profile that does not significantly alter the blade's external geometry. The sheet is embedded within the polymer composite, allowing the external surfaces to maintain their optimized aerodynamic shapes without bulky reinforcements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a composite blade (26) for a low-pressure axial turbomachine compressor. The blade (26) comprises a platform (30), an aerodynamic blade (34) with a leading edge (38) and a trailing edge (40). The blade (34) extends into the primary flow of the turbomachine. The blade (34) has a body (36) extending from the leading edge (38) to the trailing edge (40) and a leading-edge reinforcement (42). The reinforcement (42) includes a reinforcing sheet (70) extending from the leading edge (38) to the trailing edge (40) and arranged within the thickness of the body (36) to strengthen it. Furthermore, the reinforcement includes a shell (46) forming the leading edge (38) and which is integral with the sheet (70). The blade (70) is a titanium sheet, and the body (36) comprises an organic matrix composite material reinforced with fibers. This configuration improves rigidity and corrosion resistance while reducing the weight of the blade (26).Turbomachine including such a blade.