Fan Exit Guide Vane Tension Member for Acoustic Load Path Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas turbine engine designs with fan exit guide vanes (FEGVs) are not optimized for structural, performance, and acoustic requirements across a wide range of operating conditions, leading to suboptimal performance and lack of customization in load path support.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a fan exit guide vane with a load member that includes a leading edge, trailing edge, radially inner and outer attachment regions, and a load member cavity, allowing for tension load support and acoustic treatment, enabling customizable load path arrangements and additional design features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a monolithic load carrying design is used for fan exit guide vanes, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to support customized load paths and optimize performance across different operating conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vane structure is segmented into functional components: a monolithic vane body for aerodynamic function and a separate load member (tension rod) for structural load carrying. This segmentation allows the load path to be customized independently from the aerodynamic shape, enabling optimization across different operating conditions without complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The load carrying function is extracted from the monolithic vane structure and placed into a dedicated load member that extends through the vane. This extracted load path can be independently designed and positioned to support tension loads while allowing the vane itself to be optimized for aerodynamic performance and acoustic characteristics.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If material is removed from the fan exit guide vane to create space for acoustic treatment, then acoustic performance is improved, but structural load carrying capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A load member acts as an intermediary structural element that carries tension loads through the vane. This intermediary component compensates for the structural capacity lost when material is removed from the vane to create acoustic treatment cavities, allowing acoustic performance to be improved without compromising structural integrity.
3Productivity
If fan exit guide vanes are optimized for a specific mission condition, then performance at that condition is maximized, but performance across a wide range of operating conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The load member provides a universal structural solution that supports tension loads regardless of the specific operating condition. This multi-functional approach allows the FEGV pattern to be optimized for different mission conditions (cruise, climb, etc.) while the load member consistently handles structural loads, enabling broader adaptability across operating conditions.
Data Source
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Figure 4~4a
Figure 5~5a
AI summary
A fan exit guide vane (18) with a load member (42) including a leading edge (26) and a trailing edge (28) opposite chordwise from the leading edge; a radially inner attachment region (30) opposite spanwise from a radially outer attachment region (30); a span dimension (34) extending between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region; a chord dimension (36) extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a pressure side (38) opposite a suction side (40) of the fan exit guide vane; a load member cavity (56) formed within the fan exit guide vane extending spanwise through the fan exit guide vane from the radially inner attachment region to the radially outer attachment region; and the load member extending through the load member cavity beyond each of the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region of the fan exit guide vane.