Abstract: A nickel-based alloy is disclosed which is suitable for casting gas turbine components having improved strength and comparative lower density while utilizing commercially available heat treatment cycles. The nickel-based alloy is suitable for providing equiaxed, directionally solidified, and single crystal castings. Methods of providing a cast article of the nickel-based alloy and subjecting the article to heat treatment cycles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling a turbine blade tip shroud is provided. The turbine blade comprises a blade attachment, a platform extending radially outward from the attachment, an airfoil extending radially outward from the platform, and a tip shroud extending radially outward from the airfoil. The tip shroud has one or more knife edges extending radially outward from an outer surface of the tip shroud. One or more cooling passages extend through the airfoil and to the tip shroud. The turbine blade also includes one or more tip plates secured at or near the outer surface of the tip shroud thereby forming a plenum between the outer surface and the one or more tip plates. The one or more tip plates also include a plurality of cooling holes for flowing cooling air through the plenum to cool the tip shroud.

Abstract: A system and method for improving sealing at a turbine blade tip shroud, while reducing weight associated with the improved sealing is disclosed. The gas turbine blade incorporates a tip shroud having one or more pockets located therein, where the one or more pockets remove weight from the shroud, thus reducing load on the blade attachment generated by additional sealing at the turbine blade shroud. Methods for incorporating the one or more tip shrouds in a new turbine blade or a repaired turbine blade are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modal testing of blades. A method for modal testing of a blade comprises providing a generally spherical fixture for retaining the blade in a fixed-free configuration. The method includes using an excitation device for exciting the blade while the blade is retained within a blade retaining portion of the fixture. The method comprises using a measurement device to measure a response of the blade to the excitation. The fixture includes an attachment portion configured for the securement of the excitation device to the fixture.

Abstract: A nickel-based alloy is disclosed which is suitable for casting gas turbine components having improved strength and comparative lower density while utilizing commercially available heat treatment cycles. The nickel-based alloy is suitable for providing equiaxed, directionally solidified, and single crystal castings. Methods of providing a cast article of the nickel-based alloy and subjecting the article to heat treatment cycles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for improving sealing at a turbine blade tip shroud, while reducing weight associated with the improved sealing is disclosed. The gas turbine blade incorporates a tip shroud having one or more pockets located therein, where the one or more pockets remove weight from the shroud, thus reducing load on the blade attachment generated by additional sealing at the turbine blade shroud. Methods for incorporating the one or more tip shrouds in a new turbine blade or a repaired turbine blade are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling a turbine blade tip shroud is provided. The turbine blade comprises a blade attachment, a platform extending radially outward from the attachment, an airfoil extending radially outward from the platform, and a tip shroud extending radially outward from the airfoil. The tip shroud has one or more knife edges extending radially outward from an outer surface of the tip shroud. One or more cooling passages extend through the airfoil and to the tip shroud. The turbine blade also includes one or more tip plates secured at or near the outer surface of the tip shroud thereby forming a plenum between the outer surface and the one or more tip plates. The one or more tip plates also include a plurality of cooling holes for flowing cooling air through the plenum to cool the tip shroud.

Abstract: A turbine blade having an airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z set forth in Table 1, where the X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 and convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form an airfoil shape. The X, Y, and Z distances may be scaled as a function of the same constant number and the X, Y, and Z distances lie within an envelope of approximately +/?0.032 inches in directions normal to the airfoil.

Abstract: A turbine blade having an airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z set forth in Table 1, where the X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 and convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form an airfoil shape. The X, Y, and Z distances may be scaled as a function of the same constant number and the X, Y, and Z distances lie within an envelope of approximately +/?0.032 inches in directions normal to the airfoil.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modal testing of blades. A method for modal testing of a blade comprises providing a generally spherical fixture for retaining the blade in a fixed-free configuration. The method includes using an excitation device for exciting the blade while the blade is retained within a blade retaining portion of the fixture. The method comprises using a measurement device to measure a response of the blade to the excitation. The fixture includes an attachment portion configured for the securement of the excitation device to the fixture.

Abstract: A turbine blade has an undercut beneath its platform proximate a trailing edge region. The undercut incorporates a curved portion to reduce to reduce undesirable stress concentration. The undercut shape includes a curved portion of decreasing radius with increasing distance from the underside of the platform.

Abstract: A turbine blade has an undercut beneath its platform proximate a trailing edge region. The undercut incorporates a curved portion to reduce to reduce undesirable stress concentration. The undercut shape includes a curved portion of decreasing radius with increasing distance from the underside of the platform.

Abstract: A compressor component having a non-linear thickness distribution along the span length is disclosed. By altering the thickness distribution to a non-linear arrangement so as to locally increase airfoil thickness proximate a mid-span location, the natural frequency of the airfoil is increased so as to not coincide with a critical engine order of the compressor. Further, the present invention provides a novel airfoil profile in accordance with the coordinates of Table 1. The present invention also includes a carrier segment or disk fabricated from a material so as to eliminate corrosion with the compressor component.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component having an axial pin stop assembly that reduces stress around a seal pin damper slot between a platform and a buttress is disclosed. The seal pin damper slot is extended to the leading edge of the buttress and an axial pin stop seal extends into the pin damper slot to limit movement of the seal pin damper while relieving stress concentration at the interface between the buttress and platform.

Abstract: A compressor diaphragm for a gas turbine engine having improved wear capability, manufacturability, and assembly techniques is disclosed. The diaphragm includes a shiplap-type joint at an outer vane platform for connecting to adjacent vane assemblies and a clamshell-like assembly of a seal box secures and seals regions around the inner vane platform of the compressor diaphragm so as to reduce wear between the seal box and the vane assemblies. The inner platform of the diaphragm segments are fastened to each other through circumferentially-oriented fasteners at the inner diameter platform.

Abstract: A gas turbine blade having reduced stresses around a regions where the airfoil training edge joins the platform is disclosed. The lower stresses are achieved due to an undercut region proximate the blade trailing edge being placed in the platform. The undercut region has a compound fillet radius formed from two single and tangent radii where the first radius closer to the airfoil is larger than the second radius such that a ratio of R1/R2 is approximately 2.0 to 2.5.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade or vane having a first platform, an airfoil, and a compound fillet extending about a region where the airfoil joins the first platform is disclosed. The compound fillet has a first conic surface and a second conic surface, with the first conic surface tangent to the airfoil and to an offset platform surface and the second conic surface tangent to the first conic surface and the first platform. The two conic surfaces are of different sizes, with different radii, and the conic surfaces can vary in size about the periphery of the joint between the airfoil and the first platform.

Abstract: A gas turbine vane to improve vane performance by addressing known failure mechanisms. A cooling circuit to the trailing edge of a vane airfoil is fed from the outer diameter platform, which prevents failure due to an oxidized and eroded airfoil trailing edge. The gas turbine includes an outer diameter platform, a hollow airfoil and an inner diameter platform with a plurality of cooling tubes extending radially through the airfoil. The cooling tubes are open at the outer diameter end and closed with covers at the inner diameter end. The inner diameter platform is also cooled and includes a meterplate for a portion of the cooling passageway and includes an undercut to improve thermal deflections of the inner diameter platform.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component having shaped cooling holes that further enhances the cooling of a desired region while reducing stress levels in and around the cooling holes is disclosed. The cooling holes are generally elliptically-shaped and diffuse from a cooling fluid supply side to a discharge side and are oriented on the turbine component to reduce stress concentrations while directing the cooling fluid to a desired surface or location. The elliptical cooling holes have openings in the surface that have high points that are concentric and planar.

Abstract: A compressor component having a non-linear thickness distribution along the span length is disclosed. By altering the thickness distribution to a non-linear arrangement so as to locally increase airfoil thickness proximate a mid-span location, the natural frequency of the airfoil is increased so as to not coincide with a critical engine order of the compressor. Further, the present invention provides a novel airfoil profile in accordance with the coordinates of Table 1. The present invention also includes a carrier segment or disk fabricated from a material so as to eliminate corrosion with the compressor component.