Decoupled Containment Ring Structure for Gas Turbine Blade Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine engine blade containment systems face challenges in efficiently managing blade failure by either concentrating high forces or requiring significant space and design compromises, with hard wall systems experiencing high, concentrated containment forces and soft wall systems causing drag and design complexity.

Innovation Solution

A containment ring design comprising an inner, intermediate, and outer ring, where the outer ring is mechanically decoupled from the retaining walls, and the outer ring is mechanically decoupled from the wall portions, allowing for energy absorption and force redistribution through a honeycomb or foam layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hard wall containment systems are used, then blade containment reliability is improved, but containment forces become highly concentrated and structure weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade containment reliabilityVSAvoidcontainment ring weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The containment ring is divided into multiple segments (first containment ring portion, second containment ring portion, third containment ring portion) that can deform independently. This segmentation allows the structure to absorb impact energy through controlled deformation of individual segments rather than concentrating forces on a single rigid structure, reducing overall weight while maintaining containment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The containment ring incorporates dynamic characteristics by allowing portions of the ring to deform axially and radially during blade impact. The ring transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system that can absorb energy through controlled deformation, reducing peak containment forces and enabling weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Force

If soft wall containment systems are used, then containment force concentration is reduced, but drag increases and design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment force distributionVSAvoidcontainment system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the containment ring have different structural characteristics. The first portion through third portion can have varying thicknesses, material properties, and deformation characteristics optimized for their specific locations and expected impact loads. This local differentiation allows effective force distribution without requiring complex overall system design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The containment ring may incorporate composite material structures with varying properties across different portions. This allows optimization of each section for its specific functional requirements while maintaining overall structural integrity, achieving good force distribution without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If mechanically coupled containment rings are used, then structural stability is improved, but interaction with wall portions increases and keep out zone requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment ring stabilityVSAvoidkeep out zone area

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The containment ring is extracted from direct mechanical coupling with the wall portions, allowing it to function independently. The ring portions can deform and move without being constrained by rigid connections to the walls, reducing the keep out zone requirements while maintaining stability through the ring's own structural design and deformation characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design effectively redistributes containment forces, reducing the weight of the containment ring and minimizing the ring's interaction with the design, allowing for lighter weight and reducing the need for a keep out zone, while maintaining effective blade retention.

Implementation Method 1

the outer ring is mechanically decoupled from the wall portions, allowing for energy absorption and force redistribution through a honeycomb or foam layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption through deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS20250347229A1Containment ring for gas turbine engine

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP

AI summary

A casing for a gas turbine engine, including: an inner surface portion; a pair of wall portions extending radially outward from the inner surface portion; and a containment ring located between the pair of wall portions, the containment ring including an inner ring, an intermediate ring, and an outer ring, the intermediate ring being located between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the containment outer ring is mechanically decoupled from the pair of wall portions.