Design and Fabrication of Low Cost Composite Compressor Blades,
Abstract
A simplified technique for fabrication of low cost composite blades has been demonstrated. Sandwich construction was implemented and a two step fabrication technique was developed using a simplified composite design as a test vehicle. The approach used to design and fabricate full scale blades was duplicated using the test blade. A finite element model was constructed and used to predict blade properties. Test blades were then fabricated using a two step squeeze molding technique. The method was to mold the foam core, release it, apply the skin material, and place the layed up blade back into the same mold for curing. This would compress the core and apply pressure to the skin which is desirable during cure. The use of a composite design should greatly improve tolerance to impact damage and fatigue loading conditions found within the wind tunnel. The resulting increase in safe operation, decrease in cost of materials, fabrication, and operation of the tunnel, and the possibility of eliminating blade replacement due to repairability and enhanced fatigue life, support the effort to replace the metal compressor blades with those of a composite design using these low cost fabrication techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADP000019
Entities
People
- Charles D. Houghton
- John A. Mcelman
- Margaret E. Roylance
- William W. Houghton
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory