Abstract: A turbine section of a gas turbine engine is provided. The turbine section is annular about a longitudinal axis and includes first turbine with a first inlet and a first outlet; a second turbine with a second inlet and a second outlet; an inter-turbine duct extending from the first outlet to the second inlet and configured to direct an air flow from the first turbine to the second turbine; and a first guide vane disposed within the inter-turbine duct.

Abstract: A turbine section of a gas turbine engine is provided. The turbine section is annular about a longitudinal axis and includes first turbine with a first inlet and a first outlet; a second turbine with a second inlet and a second outlet; an inter-turbine duct extending from the first outlet to the second inlet and configured to direct an air flow from the first turbine to the second turbine; and a first guide vane disposed within the inter-turbine duct.

Abstract: A component for a turbine engine component includes a ceramic substrate having a surface, an environmental barrier layer bonded to the substrate surface, and an impact-resistance layer bonded to the environmental barrier layer, the impact-resistance layer having a melting point higher than about 2700° F., and further having a between about 10 and about 30% porosity. The impact-resistance layer, environmental barrier layer, and interfaces at which the environmental layer is bound to the substrate surface and the impact-resistance layer are more readily shearable than the substrate. A method for protecting a turbine engine component from environmental and particle impact-related damage includes the steps of coating a substrate surface with the environmental barrier layer, and coating the environmental barrier layer with the impact-resistance layer.

Abstract: A turbine blade tip and shroud clearance control coating system comprising a dense abrasive blade tip layer and an abradable shroud layer are provided. The dense abrasive coating may comprise cubic zirconia, hafnia or mixtures thereof and the abradable layer may be a nanolaminate thermal barrier coating that is softer than the dense abrasive layer.

Abstract: Methods for rapid prototype casting metal components, wherein the metal components are cast in a secondary ceramic mold, the secondary ceramic mold is cast in a primary mold, and the primary mold is formed by rapid prototyping or rapid manufacturing. The secondary ceramic mold may comprise a one-piece integral shell and core(s), and the metal components may have at least one hollow portion or void therein, such as a hollow airfoil for a gas turbine engine.