Abstract: An airfoil attachment system (10) for a modular turbine vane (12) of a gas turbine engine (14) including an outer attachment system (10) with forward and aft radially extending axial hooks (20, 22) configured to be coupled directly to a vane carrier (24) to increase structural integrity of the modular vane (12) is disclosed. The airfoil attachment system (10) may also include one or more midshroud outer supports (26) positioned between the forward and aft radially extending axial hooks (20, 22) to reduce circumferential rocking movement of the airfoil vane back and forth between the suction and pressure sides (28, 30) of the vane (12). The modular turbine airfoil vane (12) may be positioned between adjacent shrouds (32, 34) forming first and second joints (88, 102). A first sealing system (104) may be placed at the first joint (88), and a second sealing system (110) may be placed at the second joint (102) to limit hot gas ingestion.

Abstract: A method of comparing parts by comparing metadata representing the part topologies to identify identical or near identical parts. Metadata representing the geometry of a plurality of parts is compiled into a database. Corresponding metadata of a subject part may be determined and compared to the metadata stored in the database. The metadata may include values representing the volume, surface area, and principal moments of inertia of the parts. The metadata may additionally contain values representing the location of the cross-sectional center of gravity with respect to the point of intersection of the principal moments, for each of the planes of the principal moments, thereby allowing mirrored parts to be differentiated. The comparison of complex parts may be performed by comparing as few as five metadata values using simple database management tools.