Turbine Fan Blade Root Stress Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fan blade designs for turbomachines face challenges in managing shear forces and stress distribution, leading to increased mass and potential premature wear due to oversized spoilers and uneven stress distribution between blades and wedges.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates upstream and downstream excrescences on the blade roots to increase the axial span length, distributing stress flow over a greater area and reducing local stresses through a parallel arrangement, with concave and convex shapes to facilitate stress diffusion and improve stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the spoiler of the shim is oversized in the axial direction to resist shear forces, then the shear force resistance is improved, but the mass of the fan rotor increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear force resistanceVSAvoidmass of fan rotor
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the stress flow path into two parallel paths: one through the blade root and another through the shim spoiler. This segmentation allows the spoiler to be smaller since it only needs to carry a portion of the shear forces, reducing the mass increase while maintaining overall strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the axial dimension parameter of the spoiler by trimming the upstream end of the blade root, which allows the spoiler to be smaller than in conventional designs while still providing adequate shear force resistance through the parallel stress distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Weight of moving object

If the upstream end of the blade root is trimmed to compensate for spoiler oversizing, then the mass is reduced, but the blade root exerts significant contact forces on the groove side walls leading to premature wear

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemassVSAvoidgroove wear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the axial dimension parameter of the blade root to match the groove length, ensuring full utilization of the groove bearing surface while distributing contact forces evenly, thereby preventing premature wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the stress flow passes through the blade and then through the shim in a series assembly, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the stresses in the blade remain high and are not reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidstress in blade
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the stress flow path into parallel pathways through the blade root and the shim spoiler, transforming the series assembly into a parallel assembly. This reduces the stress concentration in the blade while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shim acts as an intermediary element that provides an additional stress flow path parallel to the blade root, thereby reducing the load on the blade while maintaining the overall structural simplicity of the assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3191688B1Fan blade
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS
  • EP3191688B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3191688B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3191688B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a vane for a turbine engine. The vane (12') has a blade (13') and a root (18') to be inserted into an axial groove of a turbine engine disc. The upstream end (450') of the root is connected to a radially inner end (430') of the leading edge (431') of the blade by the upstream end of a linking area having an recess in the downstream direction, such that said radially inner end of the leading edge of the blade is located further downstream than the upstream end of the root.