Deformable Root Spacer With Cellular Structure For Gas Turbine Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing root spacers in gas turbine engines do not effectively address the need for improved structural integrity and impact resistance between the rotor disk and the rotor blade, particularly in reducing foreign object damage (FOD) and maintaining blade alignment.

Innovation Solution

A rotor assembly with a root spacer featuring a cellular structure, including a honeycomb core and porous material, configured with apertures and corrugated geometry to provide enhanced deformation capabilities and porosity, allowing for elastic or plastic deformation under impact loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a solid root spacer is used to maintain blade alignment and structural integrity, then the blade alignment is maintained, but the impact resistance and damage reduction capability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidimpact damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The root spacer incorporates a porous core structure that allows controlled deformation during impact events. The porous material absorbs impact energy through cell collapse and material deformation, reducing the transmission of harmful forces to the blade root while maintaining structural integrity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The root spacer uses a composite structure combining a porous core with outer skin layers. This composite design provides both the strength needed for structural integrity and the energy absorption capabilities for impact resistance, resolving the contradiction between maintaining blade alignment and reducing impact damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid root spacer is used to maintain blade alignment, then the alignment is stable, but the deformation capability under impact loads is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade alignmentVSAvoiddeformation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The root spacer transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure with controlled deformation characteristics. The porous core allows the spacer to adapt its stiffness based on loading conditions - remaining rigid during normal operation for stable alignment, but deforming controllably during impact events to absorb energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The effective stiffness parameter of the root spacer changes based on the applied load. During normal operation, the porous structure maintains sufficient rigidity for blade alignment. During impact, the porous cells collapse progressively, reducing the stiffness parameter to absorb impact energy while limiting damage transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If a dense solid root spacer is used to provide structural support, then the structural integrity is improved, but the energy absorption and damping capability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidenergy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The porous core structure undergoes a phase transition from an expanded stable state during normal operation to a collapsed deformation state during impact. This phase transition enables the material to absorb impact energy through the work done during cell collapse, converting kinetic energy from foreign object impacts into deformation energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The porous structure is pre-configured with a cellular architecture designed to collapse in a controlled manner during impact events. This beforehand cushioning capability allows the root spacer to absorb impact energy progressively, reducing the peak forces transmitted to the blade root and preventing catastrophic failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 root spacer effectively reduces impact-related damage to the rotor blade by acting as a damper, facilitating controlled movement and maintaining blade alignment, while also improving structural integrity and resistance to foreign object strikes.

Implementation Method 1

allowing for elastic or plastic deformation under impact loads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

allowing for elastic or plastic deformation under impact loads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 3

The root spacer effectively reduces impact-related damage to the rotor blade by acting as a damper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 4

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS12146421B2Deformable root spacer for a gas turbine engine rotor blade

Publication Date: 2024.11.19 RTX CORP

AI summary

A rotor assembly is provided that includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade and a rotor spacer. The rotor disk includes a slot. The rotor blade includes a blade root arranged within the slot. The root spacer is arranged within the slot between the rotor disk and the blade root. The root spacer is configured as or otherwise includes a cellular structure with a plurality of internal cells.