Frangible Engine Containment Ring for Lower-Mass Case Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Containment rings for gas turbine engines are typically heavy due to their mass and require additional flanges for connection, which increases overall weight and does not meet federal safety requirements effectively.
Innovation Solution
The integration of frangible containment rings with the engine case, featuring perforations that allow the rings to partially release during a containment event, reducing mass and providing effective protection without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional containment rings are used with flanges for connection, then containment safety is improved, but the overall mass of the engine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment ring is integrally formed with the engine case, merging two previously separate components (containment ring and engine case) into a single monolithic structure. This eliminates the need for separate flanges and connection hardware, reducing overall mass while maintaining containment functionality through the integral design
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible interfaces are extracted as specific localized features within the integral structure, allowing the containment ring to selectively release from the engine case during containment events. This extraction of release capability from the overall integral structure enables safety release while maintaining structural integrity during normal operation
2Weight of stationary object
If frangible interfaces are implemented, then mass is reduced and safety is improved, but the structural integrity during normal operation must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible interfaces are implemented as localized features with specific geometric characteristics (perforations, reduced thickness zones) at specific locations where release is desired. The majority of the containment ring structure maintains full thickness and strength, providing structural integrity during normal operation while localized frangible zones enable controlled release when needed
3Reliability
If additional flanges and connection components are used, then containment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple previously separate components (engine case, containment ring, flanges, fasteners) are merged into a single integrally formed structure, dramatically reducing the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining containment reliability through the integral design and controlled frangible release mechanisms
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 solution reduces the overall mass of the engine while ensuring compliance with safety standards by allowing the containment rings to fracture and protect the engine case during events, maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the first leg of the containment ring is frangible along the first plurality of perforations to at least partially release the containment ring to protect the engine case during a containment event
Data Source
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AI summary
A containment system for an engine includes an engine case having an inner perimeter. The containment system includes a containment ring nested within the inner perimeter of the engine case and integrally formed with the engine case along a first interface and a second interface. The containment ring includes a first leg opposite a second leg, and the first interface is defined between the first leg and the engine case. The containment system includes a first plurality of perforations defined at the first interface, and the first leg of the containment ring is frangible along the first plurality of perforations to at least partially release the containment ring to protect the engine case during a containment event.