Impact Resistance of Composite Fan Blades.

Abstract

The resistance of current-design Pratt & Whitney Aircraft low aspect ratio advanced fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composite fan blades to foreign object damage (FOD) at STOL operating conditions was investigated. Five graphite/epoxy and five boron/epoxy wide chord fan blades with nickel plated stainless steel leading edge sheath protection were fabricated and impact tested. The fan blades were individually tested in a vacuum whirlpit under FOD environments. The FOD environments were typical of those encountered in service operations. The impact objects were ice balls, gravel, starlings and gelatin simulated birds. Results of the damage sustained from each FOD impact are presented for both the graphite and boron reinforced blades. Tests showed that the present design composite fan blades, with wrap around leading edge protection have inadequate FOD impact resistance at 244 m/sec (800 ft/sec) tip speed, a possible STOL operating condition.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1973
Accession Number
ADA307357

Entities

People

  • E. J. Premont
  • K. R. Stubenrauch

Organizations

  • Pratt & Whitney

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Birds
  • Composite Materials
  • Delamination
  • Epoxy Laminates
  • Epoxy Resins
  • Fabrication
  • Foreign Object Damage
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Laminates
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Measurement
  • Test Methods
  • Turbines

Readers

  • Aerodynamics.
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Reinforced Composite Materials