Abstract: Coating systems on a surface of a CMC component, such as a CMC shroud, are provided. The coating system can include an environmental barrier coating on the surface of the CMC component and an abradable coating on the environmental barrier coating and defining an external surface opposite of the environmental barrier coating. The abradable coating includes a compound having the formula: Ln2ABO8, where Ln comprises scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, or mixtures thereof; A comprises Si, Ti, Ge, or a combination thereof; and B comprises Mo, W, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the abradable coating has a first coefficient of thermal expansion at an interface with the environmental barrier coating that changes to a second coefficient of thermal expansion at its external surface. Methods are also provided for applying an abradable coating onto a CMC component.

Abstract: Coating systems on a surface of a CMC component, such as a CMC shroud, are provided. The coating system can include an environmental barrier coating on the surface of the CMC component and an abradable coating on the environmental barrier coating and defining an external surface opposite of the environmental barrier coating. The abradable coating includes a compound having the formula: Ln2ABO8, where Ln comprises scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, or mixtures thereof; A comprises Si, Ti, Ge, or a combination thereof; and B comprises Mo, W, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the abradable coating has a first coefficient of thermal expansion at an interface with the environmental barrier coating that changes to a second coefficient of thermal expansion at its external surface. Methods are also provided for applying an abradable coating onto a CMC component.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a thermoplastic-fiber composite includes heating a thermoplastic resin to a liquid state, unidirectionally orienting fibers, impregnating the fibers with the thermoplastic resin in the liquid state to produce composite laminae, and performing an automated machine lay-up process to produce a composite laminate comprising a plurality of the composite laminae.

Abstract: Process for producing a ceramic composite structure includes impregnating a reinforcing material with a suitable precursor slurry composition including thermosetting resin, a suitable curing agent, a ceramic component, a carbonaceous solids component, and optionally, a suitable solvent. Exemplary thermosetting resins include polyesters, vinyl esters, epoxy resins, bismaleimide resins, and polyimide resins. The carbonaceous solids component provides a suitable amount of carbon char upon pyrolization. The preform may be dried prior to curing to remove solvents and thereby provide a working material comprising up to 70 volume % solids. The preform is cured, pyrolized, and infiltrated with molten silicon to form a composite article. The thermosetting resin is selected for processibility, green strength, and relatively fast cure cycle.

Abstract: Process for producing a ceramic composite structure includes impregnating a reinforcing material with a suitable precursor slurry composition including thermosetting resin, a suitable curing agent, a ceramic component, a carbonaceous solids component, and optionally, a suitable solvent. Exemplary thermosetting resins include polyesters, vinyl esters, epoxy resins, bismaleimide resins, and polyimide resins. The carbonaceous solids component provides a suitable amount of carbon char upon pyrolization. The preform may be dried prior to curing to remove solvents and thereby provide a working material comprising up to 70 volume % solids. The preform is cured, pyrolized, and infiltrated with molten silicon to form a composite article. The thermosetting resin is selected for processability, green strength, and relatively fast cure cycle.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite precursor slurry composition includes a thermosetting resin, a suitable curing agent, a ceramic component, a carbonaceous solids component, and optionally, a suitable solvent. The thermosetting resin may be a polyester, a vinyl ester, an epoxy resin, a bismaleimide resin, and/or a polyamide resin. The carbonaceous solids component provides a suitable amount of carbon char upon pyrolization. The precursor slurry composition may comprise up to about 70 volume % solids after removal of the solvent, and prior to cure. A sheet molding compound first and second outer films comprising the precursor slurry composition and randomly dispersed reinforcing material carried between the first and second outer films.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

Abstract: A system and method of using at least one computer to determine which requirements from a general requirements document apply to a specific situation. The invention includes providing a logic model for the general requirements document and receiving data relating to the specific situation. The collected data and the logic model are used to identify which requirements apply to the specific situation. Lastly, a listing of the identified requirements is output.

Abstract: A method for automatically generating an ultrasonic inspection plan for parts to be inspected includes collecting data relating to the ultrasonic inspection planning by displaying an input screen that prompts a user to input the pertinent data. The inspection parameters to be used in the ultrasonic inspections are then calculated from the collected data, and the calculated parameters are formatted into an inspection plan document. A tool for carrying out this method can be implemented on any computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A system and method of using at least one computer to construct a technical plan for a specific process. The invention includes providing a rule-based logic model for the specific process and inputting data relating to the specific process. The data is compared to the logic model to identify exceptions in the data to rules in the logic model. The data are formatted into a technical plan that includes the exceptions. The technical plan is then outputted for review.

Abstract: A system and method of using at least one computer to construct a technical plan for a specific process. The invention includes providing a rule-based logic model for the specific process and inputting data relating to the specific process. The data is compared to the logic model to identify exceptions in the data to rules in the logic model. The data are formatted into a technical plan that includes the exceptions. The technical plan is then outputted for review.

Abstract: A system and method of using at least one computer to determine which requirements from a general requirements document apply to a specific situation. The invention includes providing a logic model for the general requirements document and receiving data relating to the specific situation. The collected data and the logic model are used to identify which requirements apply to the specific situation. Lastly, a listing of the identified requirements is output.