Abstract: A composite material includes a composite body having a composite surface, and a reinforcing element extending through the composite body in a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of stitches. The first plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially similarly to each other. The second plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially dissimilarly to each other.

Abstract: An airfoil having active actuators and at least one morphing area allowing shape change of the airfoil and further allowing for optimization of the airfoil shape at more than one operating condition.

Abstract: An airfoil, a fan assembly and an engine include at least one airfoil including a root portion, a body portion and a tip portion. The body portion is configured extending radially outward from the root portion and the tip portion is configured extending radially outward from the root portion and the body portion. The airfoil including a suction and a pressure side coupled together at a leading and a trailing edge and extending therebetween. The airfoil including a compliant tip at the tip portion. The compliant tip extending along at least a portion of the tip portion in a chord-wise direction and a span-wise direction. The compliant tip is configured to provide wave propagation along the tip portion such that critical strain proximate the tip portion and the trailing edge is reduced during a foreign object impact.

Abstract: A balancing system and method for reducing imbalance in a rotatable member of a machine is provided. The system includes a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a stationary portion of the machine, a controller assembly communitively coupled to the plurality of vibration sensors, and a balancing assembly coupled to the rotatable member, said balancing assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller assembly, said balancing assembly configured to modify the weight distribution of the rotatable member in response to a command wirelessly transmitted from the controller assembly. The controller assembly is configured to receive data from the plurality of vibration sensors and determine an imbalance in the rotatable member using the received data.

Abstract: A support frame includes a rail engaging a hook of a composite article having plys. The rail included a rail contact surface generally conformal to and contacting a hook contact surface of the hook. The rail and hook contact surfaces being substantially normal to the plys beneath the hook contact surface. One embodiment of the article is a composite nozzle segment including one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having plys curved about a centerline axis and the rail engages a hook of the radially inner band segment. The hook and the rail may be straight or arcuate. The frame includes a central body extending axially aftwardly from the rail to an aft frame flange. A frame pin may be mounted on the frame, engage the inner band segment or one of the airfoils, and may extend into a cavity in the airfoil.

Abstract: An integrated outlet guide vane assembly for turbomachinery typically includes at least one outlet guide vane and at least one bifurcation having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The turbomachinery has a central axis of rotation and a defined direction of rotation about the axis. The guide vane comprises an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The leading edge of the bifurcation has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The trailing edge of the vane is faired into the leading edge of the bifurcation.

Abstract: A composite nozzle segment includes one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having band plies curved about a centerline axis, an outer chordal seal line on an outer aft flange of the outer band segment, and thickened areas in corners of the outer aft flange along pressure and suction side edges of the outer band segment. The thickened areas may be thickest at the pressure and suction side edges and thinnest near a middle of the outer band segment. The thickened areas taper off from an aft end of the thickened area towards a forward flange of the outer band segment. Insert plies may be disposed between some of the band plies within the thickened areas may be grouped together in a discrete group or be interspersed with some of the band plies. The insert plies may have triangular shapes.

Abstract: A composite nozzle segment includes one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having band plies curved about a centerline axis, an outer chordal seal line on an outer aft flange of the outer band segment, and thickened areas in corners of the outer aft flange along pressure and suction side edges of the outer band segment. The thickened areas may be thickest at the pressure and suction side edges and thinnest near a middle of the outer band segment. The thickened areas taper off from an aft end of the thickened area towards a forward flange of the outer band segment. Insert plies may be disposed between some of the band plies within the thickened areas may be grouped together in a discrete group or be interspersed with some of the band plies. The insert plies may have triangular shapes.

Abstract: A support frame includes a rail engaging a hook of a composite article having plys. The rail included a rail contact surface generally conformal to and contacting a hook contact surface of the hook. The rail and hook contact surfaces being substantially normal to the plys beneath the hook contact surface. One embodiment of the article is a composite nozzle segment including one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having plys curved about a centerline axis and the rail engages a hook of the radially inner band segment. The hook and the rail may be straight or arcuate. The frame includes a central body extending axially aftwardly from the rail to an aft frame flange. A frame pin may be mounted on the frame, engage the inner band segment or one of the airfoils, and may extend into a cavity in the airfoil.

Abstract: An integrated outlet guide vane assembly for turbomachinery typically includes at least one outlet guide vane and at least one bifurcation having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The turbomachinery has a central axis of rotation and a defined direction of rotation about the axis. The guide vane comprises an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The leading edge of the bifurcation has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The trailing edge of the vane is faired into the leading edge of the bifurcation.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly. The ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly may include a ceramic matrix composite vane, a number of metallic components positioned about the ceramic matrix composite vane, and a number of metallic seals positioned between the ceramic matrix composite vane and one or more of the metallic components.

Abstract: A fan blade including a plurality of fiber composite layers and at least one high elongation fiber composite strip joining one of the fiber composite layers at a joint. A method of making a fan blade includes joining a plurality of fiber composite layers and joining at least one high elongation fiber composite strip to one of the plurality of fiber composite layers. An end of the high elongation fiber composite strip meets an end of the fiber composite layer at a joint.

Abstract: A balancing system and method for reducing imbalance in a rotatable member of a machine is provided. The system includes a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a stationary portion of the machine, a controller assembly communitively coupled to the plurality of vibration sensors, and a balancing assembly coupled to the rotatable member, said balancing assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller assembly, said balancing assembly configured to modify the weight distribution of the rotatable member in response to a command wirelessly transmitted from the controller assembly. The controller assembly is configured to receive data from the plurality of vibration sensors and determine an imbalance in the rotatable member using the received data.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly. The ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly may include a ceramic matrix composite vane, a number of metallic components positioned about the ceramic matrix composite vane, and a number of metallic seals positioned between the ceramic matrix composite vane and one or more of the metallic components.

Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article including laser shock peening a first area with at least one high fluence laser beam and laser shock peening a border area between the first area and a non-laser shock peened area of the article with at least one first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with a second low fluence laser beam or more low fluence laser beams wherein the second low fluence laser beam and others have a lower fluence than the first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with progressively lower fluence laser beams starting with the one first fluence laser beam wherein the progressively lower fluence laser beams are in order of greatest fluence to least fluence in a direction outwardly from the first area through the border area to the non-laser shock peened area.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor powered by a turbine. The turbine includes a nozzle having vanes extending between outer and inner bands. Each vane includes an internal cooling plenum and a bypass tube extending through the bands. First and second manifolds surround the outer band and are disposed in flow communication with the plenums and bypass tubes, respectively. A bleed circuit joins the compressor to the manifolds for providing pressurized air thereto. A control valve modulates airflow to the first manifold and in turn through the cooling plenums of the vanes.

Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article including laser shock peening a first area with at least one high fluence laser beam and laser shock peening a border area between the first area and a non-laser shock peened area of the article with at least one first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with a second low fluence laser beam or more low fluence laser beams wherein the second low fluence laser beam and others have a lower fluence than the first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with progressively lower fluence laser beams starting with the one first fluence laser beam wherein the progressively lower fluence laser beams are in order of greatest fluence to least fluence in a direction outwardly from the first area through the border area to the non-laser shock peened area.

Abstract: A counterrotatable booster compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine having a counterrotatable fan section with a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft and a second fan blade row axially spaced from the first fan blade row and connected to a second drive shaft. The counterrotatable booster compressor assembly includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft, a plurality of fan shaft extensions connected to the second drive shaft for driving the second fan blade row, and at least one compressor blade integral with each fan shaft extension so as to form a second compressor blade row interdigitated with the first compressor blade row.

Abstract: A counterrotatable booster compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine having a counterrotatable fan section with a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft and a second fan blade row axially spaced from the first fan blade row and connected to a second drive shaft. The counterrotatable booster compressor assembly includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft, a plurality of fan shaft extensions connected to the second drive shaft for driving the second fan blade row, and at least one compressor blade integral with each fan shaft extension so as to form a second compressor blade row interdigitated with the first compressor blade row.

Abstract: A blisk includes a disk having a rim. A row of blades extends outwardly from the rib in a unitary construction. The blades are spaced apart in the disk rim to define fluted inner flowpath channels extending axially between the blades to bound corresponding flow passages therebetween.