Gas Turbine Vane Assembly Stress Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine vanes experience high stresses at the mounting rail, leading to a potential life shortfall due to the stiff and solid nature of the mounting rail, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a mounting feature with a first and second mounting feature portion, where the first rail member extends from the outer platform towards the case, and the second rail member is radially spaced apart, creating openings that reduce stress by softening the rail and incorporating a seal within a slotted region to further alleviate stress concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a solid and stiff mounting rail is used to support the vane assembly, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the stress concentration at the mounting rail leads to reduced component life
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting rail transitions from a solid, stiff structure to a lattice structure with varying thickness, changing the structural parameters to distribute stress more effectively while maintaining necessary strength
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting rail employs a composite lattice structure combining different thickness regions (first thickness at outer platform, second thickness at case) to optimize both strength and stress distribution characteristics
2Stability of the object's composition
If a solid mounting rail is used to ensure structural integrity, then the rigidity is improved, but the stress distribution becomes concentrated leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting rail is segmented into a lattice structure with multiple struts and openings, breaking the continuous solid structure into discrete elements that distribute stress more uniformly
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mounting rail have different thicknesses and structural densities - the first thickness region at the outer platform and the second thickness region at the case - optimizing local stress distribution while maintaining overall structural integrity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A vane assembly (40) for a gas turbine engine (10) includes an outer platform (50), an inner platform (52), a vane (54), and a seal (56). The outer platform is disposed proximate a case (30). The outer platform has a first rail (60) extending towards the case. The first rail has a first face (70), a second face (72) disposed opposite the first face, and a first opening (78) extending from the first face towards the second face. The inner platform is disposed opposite the outer platform. The vane extends between the inner platform and the outer platform. The seal is received within a slotted region (82) that is disposed between the first face and the second face.