Decoupled Containment Ring for Gas Turbine Blade Failure Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blade containment systems in gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently managing the high forces generated during blade failure, with hard wall systems concentrating forces and causing blade fragmentation, and soft wall systems increasing drag and requiring significant design modifications.
Innovation Solution
A containment ring design comprising an inner, intermediate, and outer ring, where the outer ring is mechanically decoupled from the wall portions, allowing for energy absorption and force redistribution through the use of honeycomb and foam layers, reducing the need for heavy designs and drag-inducing bulges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hard wall containment systems are used, then blade containment reliability is improved, but forces are concentrated causing blade fragmentation and increased structural weight
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system is divided into multiple segments: an inner rigid containment ring for immediate blade containment, an intermediate energy absorption layer (foam or honeycomb), and an outer rigid containment ring. This segmentation distributes the impact forces across different zones rather than concentrating them at a single point, resolving the contradiction between reliable containment and force concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment system combines different material types: rigid materials (metal or composite) for the inner and outer rings providing structural strength and containment reliability, and energy-absorbing materials (foam or honeycomb) for the intermediate layer that dissipates impact energy. This composite structure addresses both the need for reliable containment and the need to reduce force concentration.
2Strength
If soft wall containment systems are used, then force distribution is improved, but drag increases and design modifications are required
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system applies different material properties to different radial zones: the inner and outer rings use rigid materials with high strength-to-weight ratios that maintain aerodynamic profiles, while only the intermediate energy absorption layer uses softer, energy-dissipating materials. This localized application of different material qualities achieves force distribution without the drag penalties of a completely soft wall system.
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, allowing for lighter engine components and improved trajectory prediction, while minimizing drag and maintaining reliable containment.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for energy absorption and force redistribution through the use of honeycomb and foam layers
Data Source
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AI summary
A casing (72) for a gas turbine engine (10), including: an inner surface portion (74); a pair of wall portions (80) extending radially outward from the inner surface portion (74); and a containment ring (88) located between the pair of wall portions (80), the containment ring (88) including an inner ring (90), an intermediate ring (92), and an outer ring (94), the intermediate ring (92) being located between the inner ring (90) and the outer ring (94), wherein the containment outer ring (94) is mechanically decoupled from the pair of wall portions (80).