Abstract: A rotating airfoil assembly including a rotation axis and a plurality of rotating airfoils configured to rotate about the rotation axis. Each rotating airfoil of the rotating airfoils includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a pressure surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The suction surface and the pressure surface are positioned on opposite sides of the rotating airfoil such that, when airflows over the suction surface and the pressure surface of the rotating airfoil as the rotating airfoil rotates about the rotation axis, the rotating airfoil generates lift. At least one opening is located on one of the suction surface or the pressure surface. The at least one opening is configured to eject air or to draw air into the opening.

Abstract: An engine for an aircraft. The engine includes a rotating airfoil assembly, at least one actuator, a torque producing system, and a controller. The rotating airfoil assembly includes a rotation axis and a plurality of rotating airfoils configured to rotate about the rotation axis in a plane of rotation. The at least one actuator is operable to change the plane of rotation of the plurality of rotating airfoils. The torque producing system is coupled to the rotating airfoil assembly and configured to rotate the rotating airfoil assembly about the rotation axis of the rotating airfoil assembly. The controller is configured to determine that the aircraft has an angle of attack and to operate the at least one actuator to change the plane of rotation of the plurality of rotating airfoils based on the angle of attack.

Abstract: A turbine damper may be provided that may include an elongated body sized to fit inside a turbine blade, the elongated body elongated along a radial direction of the turbine blade relative to a rotation axis of the turbine blade, and plural dampening masses coupled with the elongated body and disposed at different locations along the radial direction. The plural dampening masses may be one or more of sized to dampen different vibration modes of the turbine blade, or moveable relative to and along the elongated body in the radial direction.

Abstract: A rotating airfoil including a body and a vibration absorber located within the body. The body has a root end and a tip. The rotating airfoil has a natural frequency, and the vibration absorber has a natural frequency. The natural frequency of the vibration absorber is different than the natural frequency of the rotating airfoil.

Abstract: A vibrational dampening element is attached to a component and configured to adjust the amplitude of oscillations of the component. The vibrational dampening element includes a mass. The mass includes a main body and a member extending from the main body. A casing that encapsulates the mass. A fluidic chamber defined between the mass and the casing. A first fluidic portion is disposed between a first side of the mass and the casing. The first fluidic portion includes a first accumulator portion directly neighboring the member. A second fluidic portion is disposed between a second side of the mass and the casing. The second fluidic portion includes a second accumulator portion directly neighboring the member. The first accumulator portion is in fluid communication with the second accumulator portion. The vibrational dampening element further includes a primary passage that extends between the first fluidic portion and the second fluidic portion.

Abstract: A rotating airfoil assembly including a rotation axis and a plurality of rotating airfoils configured to rotate about the rotation axis. Each rotating airfoil of the rotating airfoils includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a pressure surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The suction surface and the pressure surface are positioned on opposite sides of the rotating airfoil such that, when airflows over the suction surface and the pressure surface of the rotating airfoil as the rotating airfoil rotates about the rotation axis, the rotating airfoil generates lift. At least one opening is located on one of the suction surface or the pressure surface. The at least one opening is configured to eject air or to draw air into the opening.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly includes a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade positioned adjacent to one another. The first rotor blade and the second rotor blade each include a platform and an airfoil extending radially outward from a root coupled to the platform to a tip. The airfoil includes a part-span shroud. The part-span shroud extends from the airfoil and is disposed between the root and the tip. The part-span shroud includes a pressure side portion extending from the pressure side surface and a suction side portion extending from the suction side surface. A damper is in contact with both the part span shroud of the first rotor blade and the part span shroud of the second rotor blade at an interference joint. The damper is movable relative to the part span shroud of both the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade.

Abstract: A turbine damper may be provided that may include an elongated body sized to fit inside a turbine blade, the elongated body elongated along a radial direction of the turbine blade relative to a rotation axis of the turbine blade, and plural dampening masses coupled with the elongated body and disposed at different locations along the radial direction. The plural dampening masses may be one or more of sized to dampen different vibration modes of the turbine blade, or moveable relative to and along the elongated body in the radial direction.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes an internal vibration damping system having a plurality of unit cells. Each unit cell includes: an impacting structure; and a cavity encapsulating the impacting structure. The cavity, which includes a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, is disposed within a substrate, which forms an outer casing of the cavity. At least one fluid is disposed in each of the first and second hemispheres between the impacting structure and the outer casing.

Abstract: A turbine damper may be provided that may include an elongated body sized to fit inside a turbine blade, the elongated body elongated along a radial direction of the turbine blade relative to a rotation axis of the turbine blade, and plural dampening masses coupled with the elongated body and disposed at different locations along the radial direction. The plural dampening masses may be one or more of sized to dampen different vibration modes of the turbine blade, or moveable relative to and along the elongated body in the radial direction.

Abstract: The present embodiments set forth a blade including an airfoil, the airfoil including a tip cap, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall extending axially between corresponding leading and trailing edges and radially between the base and the tip cap. The blade, including the airfoil and base, being formed in at least two airfoil parts, each of the two airfoil parts including contacting edges engaging each other respective contacting edges, the contacting edges defining a joint for preloading each of the at least two parts with each other and with the base. The at least two airfoil parts forming the airfoil being retained to each other by an interference fit at the joint. The interference fit providing frictional damping of vibrations in the blade during blade operation.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating and maintaining a wind turbine. Accordingly, a plurality of data inputs are received. The plurality of data inputs represent a plurality of monitored attributes of a component of the wind turbine. A consolidated risk index for the component is determined using the plurality of monitored attributes, and a range of potential risk indices is forecasted. A remaining-useful-life distribution is determined based on the damage potential and an end-of-life damage threshold. The wind turbine is shut down or idled if the remaining-useful-life distribution is below a shutdown threshold.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a blended airfoil that includes generating a plurality of simulated blended airfoil designs each including one of a plurality of blend geometries, training surrogate models representing the plurality of simulated blended airfoil designs based on natural frequency, modal force, and Goodman scale factors, determining a likelihood of operational failure of each of the plurality of blended airfoil designs in response to one or more vibratory modes, determining which of the plurality of simulated blended airfoil designs violate at least one aeromechanical constraint and generating, a blend design space visualization including a blend design space, where the blend design space includes one or more restricted regions indicating blended airfoil designs where at least one aeromechanical constraint is violates and one or more permitted regions indicating blended airfoil designs where no aeromechanical constraints are violated.

Abstract: A vibrational dampening element is attached to a component and configured to adjust the amplitude of oscillations of the component. The vibrational dampening element includes a mass. The mass includes a main body and a member extending from the main body. A casing that encapsulates the mass. A fluidic chamber defined between the mass and the casing. A first fluidic portion is disposed between a first side of the mass and the casing. The first fluidic portion includes a first accumulator portion directly neighboring the member. A second fluidic portion is disposed between a second side of the mass and the casing. The second fluidic portion includes a second accumulator portion directly neighboring the member. The first accumulator portion is in fluid communication with the second accumulator portion. The vibrational dampening element further includes a primary passage that extends between the first fluidic portion and the second fluidic portion.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly includes a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade positioned adjacent to one another. The first rotor blade and the second rotor blade each include a platform and an airfoil extending radially outward from a root coupled to the platform to a tip. The airfoil includes a part-span shroud. The part-span shroud extends from the airfoil and is disposed between the root and the tip. The part-span shroud includes a pressure side portion extending from the pressure side surface and a suction side portion extending from the suction side surface. A damper is in contact with both the part span shroud of the first rotor blade and the part span shroud of the second rotor blade at an interference joint. The damper is movable relative to the part span shroud of both the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade.

Abstract: A nested lattice structure for use in a damping system for a turbine blade includes a first lattice structure including: a first outer passage including a hollow interior; a second outer passage including a hollow interior; and an outer node including a hollow interior and forming an intersection of the first outer passage and the second outer passage. The nested lattice structure includes a second lattice structure nested within the hollow interior of the first lattice structure. The second lattice structure includes: a first inner passage; a second inner passage; and an inner node forming an intersection of the first inner passage and the second inner passage. Each of the first inner passage, the second inner passage, and the inner node are nested within the respective first outer passage, the second outer passage, and the outer node.

Abstract: A unit cell (26) for use in a damping system (24) includes: an impacting structure (34); a cavity (32) encapsulating the impacting structure (34), the cavity (32) including a first hemisphere (32A) and a second hemisphere (32B), the cavity (32) disposed within a substrate (28), the substrate (28) forming an outer casing of the cavity (32); and at least one fluid (36) disposed in each of the first and second hemispheres (32A, 32B) between the impacting structure (34) and the outer casing (28).

Abstract: A nested lattice structure 29 for use in a damping system includes a first lattice structure 26 including: a first outer passage 30 including a hollow interior 45; a second outer passage 32 including a hollow interior; and an outer node 42 including a hollow interior and forming an intersection of the first outer passage 30 and the second outer passage 32. The nested lattice structure 29 includes a second lattice structure 28 nested within the hollow interior of the first lattice structure 26 including: a first inner passage 44; a second inner passage 46; and an inner node 50 forming an intersection of the first inner passage 44 and the second inner passage 46. Each of the first inner passage 44, the second inner passage 46 and the inner node 50 are nested within the respective first outer passage 30, the second outer passage 32 and the outer node 42.

Abstract: The present embodiments set forth a blade including an airfoil, the airfoil including a tip cap, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall extending axially between corresponding leading and trailing edges and radially between the base and the tip cap. The blade, including the airfoil and base, being formed in at least two airfoil parts, each of the two airfoil parts including contacting edges engaging each other respective contacting edges, the contacting edges defining a joint for preloading each of the at least two parts with each other and with the base. The at least two airfoil parts forming the airfoil being retained to each other by an interference fit at the joint. The interference fit providing frictional damping of vibrations in the blade during blade operation.

Abstract: A turbine damper may be provided that may include an elongated body sized to fit inside a turbine blade, the elongated body elongated along a radial direction of the turbine blade relative to a rotation axis of the turbine blade, and plural dampening masses coupled with the elongated body and disposed at different locations along the radial direction. The plural dampening masses may be one or more of sized to dampen different vibration modes of the turbine blade, or moveable relative to and along the elongated body in the radial direction.