Laminate Blade Outer Air Seal Radial Hooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blade outer air seals in gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively distributing radial loads and preventing delamination, especially due to pressure differentials across the seals, and often require complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of ceramic matrix composite laminate blade outer air seals with support hooks extending generally radially outwardly, featuring a bulged noodle port and strategically placed slots for improved load distribution and assembly, along with an anti-rotation structure, simplifies manufacturing and enhances seal stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional blade outer air seals are used, then manufacturing complexity increases, but radial load distribution and delamination prevention are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The air seal is divided into multiple discrete laminate segments that can be individually manufactured and assembled. Each segment contains integrated support hooks, allowing for simplified manufacturing of individual components while achieving proper load distribution through the segmented structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air seal is constructed using composite material laminates that combine multiple material properties in a single structure. This composite construction provides both the manufacturing simplicity of integrated components and the structural reliability needed for radial load distribution and delamination prevention.
2Strength
If ceramic matrix composite laminate is used, then delamination resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the laminate structure itself. The laminate provides both the sealing function and the structural support through integrated hooks, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining delamination resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The support hooks are pre-formed as integral parts of the laminate structure during manufacturing. This preliminary formation of support structures eliminates subsequent assembly steps and reduces overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring proper delamination resistance.
3Force
If support hooks extend radially outwardly, then load distribution improves, but seal stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The laminate structure provides different local properties to meet different functional requirements. The radially extending hooks provide optimal load distribution in the radial direction, while the laminate body maintains seal stability through its layered construction and material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation and geometry of the support hooks are optimized to extend generally radially outwardly, changing the structural parameters to improve radial load distribution while the laminate construction parameters maintain overall seal stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine (20) includes a turbine blade (102) extending radially outwardly to a radially outer tip (103) and for rotation about an axis of rotation (Z). A blade outer air seal (104, 204, 220) is positioned radially outwardly of the radially outer tip (103) of the turbine blade (102). The blade outer air seal (104, 204, 220) has a forward hook (118, 223) at an axially forward location and an aft hook (120, 221) at an axially aft location. An axial direction is defined by a rotational axis of the turbine blade (102). The blade outer air seal (104, 204, 220) has a central web (121) extending axially between the forward and aft hooks (118, 120, 221, 223). The forward and aft hooks (118, 120, 221, 223) extend generally radially outward from the central web (121), and have slots (146, 148, 222, 224) for being received on forward and aft support hooks (108, 110) of a blade outer air seal support (106).