Gas Turbine Platform Curved Side Edges Reduce Creep
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine components, such as turbine vanes and blades, experience thermal-mechanical fatigue and creep due to heating and cooling cycles, leading to potential cracks and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of platforms with curved side edges in gas turbine engine systems, which reduce thermal-mechanical fatigue and creep by minimizing mass moment arms and accommodating axial thermal growth, while also facilitating cooling through reduced material and continuous exterior surface blending with airfoils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If platforms have straight side edges with traditional construction, then manufacturing is simpler, but thermal-mechanical fatigue and creep increase due to larger mass moment arms and inability to accommodate thermal growth
Solution Approach 1:
The platform side edges are curved rather than straight, creating a concave profile that reduces the mass moment arm. This curvature allows the platform to better accommodate axial thermal growth and reduces thermal-mechanical fatigue and creep, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through single-piece construction
2Strength
If platforms have larger mass moment arms, then structural strength is improved, but thermal-mechanical fatigue and creep increase under thermal cycling
Solution Approach 1:
By curving the side edges of the platform to create a concave profile, the mass moment arm is reduced. This geometric modification decreases the lever arm effect that causes thermal-mechanical fatigue and creep during thermal cycling, while the platform maintains adequate structural strength through its integrated design with the airfoil
3Temperature
If platforms have reduced material through curved side edges, then cooling capabilities are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The platform and airfoil are constructed as a single integrated piece with a continuous exterior surface that blends seamlessly between components. This merging eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly operations, reducing precision requirements while the curved side edges remove material to improve cooling capabilities
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 curved side edges effectively reduce axial strain and creep, enhancing the durability and efficiency of gas turbine engine components by minimizing material stress and improving cooling capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
expansion and contraction can result in thermal-mechanical fatigue, which can manifest as cracks in the components
Implementation Method 2
The curved side edges effectively reduce axial strain and creep
Implementation Method 3
components are subjected to heating and cooling cycles that cause the components to expand and contract
Implementation Method 4
facilitating cooling through reduced material and continuous exterior surface blending with airfoils
Data Source
AI summary
Platforms with curved side edges and gas turbine engine systems involving such platforms are provided. In this regard, a representative airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a platform having a gas path side, a non-gas path side, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and exhibiting a first curve along a length thereof, and a second side edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and exhibiting a second curve along a length thereof; and an airfoil extending from the gas path side of the platform; the platform and the airfoil exhibiting a unitary construction such that a continuous exterior surface blends from the airfoil to the platform.