ISSN: 0884-6804
Page Count: 5

Fabrication and Quality Assurance Processes for Superhybrid Composite Fan Blades
Chamis, CC
Aerospace materials engineer, Space Transportation Engineering Division, and senior aerospace structures/composites engineer, Structures Division, NASA Lewis Research Center, OH

Lark, RF
Aerospace materials engineer, Space Transportation Engineering Division, and senior aerospace structures/composites engineer, Structures Division, NASA Lewis Research Center, OH

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of fabricating full-scale fan blades from superhybrid composites (SHC) for use in large commercial gas turbine engines. The type of blade construction selected was a metal-spar/SHC-shell configuration, in which the outer shell was adhesively bonded to a short, internal, titanium spar. This report describes various aspects of blade fabrication, inspection, and quality assurance procedures developed in the investigation. Conclusions from this investigation indicate that the SHC concept is feasible for the fabrication of prototype, full-scale, metal-spar/SHC-shell fan blades that have good structural properties and meet dimensional requirements.

Keywords:
superhybrid composites, fans, blade fabrication, structural properties

Paper ID: CTR10329J
DOI: 10.1520/CTR10329J
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