Frangible Composite Blade for Rotary Machine Impact Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary machine blades and propellers lack frangibility to manage the release of damaged portions caused by foreign object ingestion, leading to potential secondary impacts and damage to engine components or aircraft structures.
Innovation Solution
The development of a self-shredding composite blade with integrated energy dissipating members, including strands and damage initiators, that dissipate kinetic energy and alter the trajectory of released blade portions, reducing the risk of secondary impacts and enhancing engine performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional solid composite blades are used, then blade strength and structural integrity are improved, but the ability to safely manage released portions after foreign object damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with predetermined fracture planes and frangible sections that allow it to segment into controlled pieces upon impact. The composite blade structure includes weak planes created by alternating layers of composite material and frangible material, enabling the blade to break into manageable segments rather than large dangerous pieces
Solution Approach 2:
The blade's mechanical properties are changed by incorporating frangible sections with different material characteristics. The frangible portions have reduced strength parameters compared to the main blade structure, creating controlled weakness zones that activate only under impact conditions to produce safe fragmentation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If blade frangibility is increased to reduce secondary impacts, then safety is improved, but blade strength and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the blade have different structural qualities. The frangible sections are localized to specific portions of the blade while the main load-bearing sections maintain full strength. This allows the blade to be strong where needed and frangible where safety requires it
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is pre-designed with frangible sections that act as predetermined failure zones. These sections are prepared in advance to fail in a controlled manner upon impact, cushioning the blow and preventing the propagation of damage through the entire blade structure
3Weight of moving object
If composite blade materials are used for weight reduction, then engine efficiency is improved, but control over released portion trajectory deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade uses composite construction combining traditional composite materials with frangible sections. This composite approach allows weight reduction while incorporating controlled weakness zones that manage fragmentation behavior, achieving both lightweight design and safe failure characteristics
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 self-shredding composite blades effectively reduce the kinetic energy of released portions, minimizing damage to adjacent blades and aircraft structures, while allowing for weight reduction and improved engine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the self-shredding composite blade including at least one energy dissipating member
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary machine with at least one frangible composite blade that mitigates adverse conditions associated with release of material resulting from impact damage to the composite blade is provided. The composite blade having provisions for dissipating energy, self-shredding, and predetermined release trajectory. A method for manufacturing the composite blade and assembling the blade into a rotary machine is also provided.