Rotatable Annular Support Assembly for Gas Turbine Thermal Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine ring-strut-ring assemblies experience durability limitations due to thermal fatigue caused by thermal mismatches between hotter struts and cooler rings, especially during engine transients.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable annular support assembly is introduced, comprising a rotating member and a stationary member with a ball-and-socket joint configuration, allowing for localized rotation and accommodating thermal mismatch-induced stresses by converting thermally induced strain into rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ring-strut-ring assemblies are used for structural support in hot sections, then structural support is provided, but thermal fatigue occurs due to thermal mismatch between struts and rings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotatable member that allows relative rotation between the first annulus (connected to struts) and the second annulus (connected to rings). This dynamic capability enables the assembly to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction differences between struts and rings during engine transients, preventing thermal fatigue while maintaining structural support.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid coupling between struts and rings is used, then structural stability is maintained, but thermal strain accumulates during engine transients
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable member provides a dynamic joint that allows controlled relative rotation between the first and second annuli. This enables the structure to adapt to thermal strain during engine transients while maintaining overall structural stability through the constrained rotational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the joint from fixed (rigid coupling) to variable (rotatable coupling). This allows the joint to change its angular position in response to thermal conditions, accommodating thermal strain while maintaining structural integrity.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed support members are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to thermal conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable member introduces a dynamic element that maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving thermal adaptability. The rotational capability allows the support assembly to adapt to varying thermal conditions during engine operation without requiring complex active control systems.
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 rotatable support assembly enhances the durability of gas turbine engines by mitigating thermal fatigue and accommodating thermal mismatches, thereby improving the structural integrity and reliability of the engine components.
Implementation Method 1
thermal mismatch locations where relatively hotter struts of the assembly join with the relatively cooler rings. Such a thermal mismatch can be aggravated during engine transients as the struts tend to respond faster to temperature changes than do the rings.
Implementation Method 2
thermal fatigue can be caused at thermal mismatch locations where relatively hotter struts of the assembly join with the relatively cooler rings
Data Source
AI summary
Gas turbine engine systems involving rotatable annular supports are provided. In this regard, a representative support assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a rotatable member having a first end located about a first annulus; and a stationary member located about a second annulus; the first end of the rotatable member being rotatably coupled with the stationary member, with at least a portion of the first annulus being coextensive with at least a portion of the second annulus, the first end being operative to rotate locally with respect to a corresponding portion of the stationary member.