Abstract: A method for using an aerodynamic stability management system is disclosed. The method includes placing at least one pressure sensor in a compressor, the at least one pressure sensor communicating with an aerodynamic stability management system controller and monitoring gas turbine engine performance using the aerodynamic stability management system controller. The controller includes a memory, an input/output interface and a processor. The method also includes defining a correlation threshold value and calculating a correlation measure using a plurality of pressure signals generated by the at least one pressure sensor and comparing the correlation measure with the correlation threshold value. When the correlation measure is less than the correlation threshold value a corrective action is implemented.

Abstract: A FLADE fan assembly includes radially inner and outer airfoils extending radially inwardly and outwardly respectively from an annular shroud circumferentially disposed about a centerline. Inner and outer chords extend between inner and outer leading and trailing edges of inner and outer airfoil cross-sections of the radially inner and outer airfoils respectively. Inner and outer stagger angles between the inner and outer chords respectively at the shroud and the centerline are different. The radially outer airfoils may outnumber the radially inner airfoils and particularly by a ratio in a range of 1.5:1 to about 4:1. Load paths or radii may extend radially through the inner and outer airfoils and through the rotating shroud between the inner and outer airfoils and may pass near or through the inner and outer leading edges and through the inner and outer trailing edges.

Abstract: A FLADE fan assembly includes radially inner and outer airfoils extending radially inwardly and outwardly respectively from an annular shroud circumferentially disposed about a centerline. Inner and outer chords extend between inner and outer leading and trailing edges of inner and outer airfoil cross-sections of the radially inner and outer airfoils respectively. Inner and outer stagger angles between the inner and outer chords respectively at the shroud and the centerline are different. The radially outer airfoils may outnumber the radially inner airfoils and particularly by a ratio in a range of 1.5:1 to about 4:1. Load paths or radii may extend radially through the inner and outer airfoils and through the rotating shroud between the inner and outer airfoils and may pass near or through the inner and outer leading edges and through the inner and outer trailing edges.

Abstract: A fan blade includes an airfoil having opposite pressure and suction sides extending in span between a root and tip, and extending in chord between opposite leading and trailing edges. From root toward tip, the airfoil includes increasing stagger and decreasing camber, and increasing chord length to barrel the airfoil along both the leading and trailing edges. The airfoil further includes forward aerodynamic sweep at the tip, and non-forward aerodynamic sweep between the maximum barrel and the root.

Abstract: A turbofan includes a row of fan blades extending from a supporting disk inside an annular casing. Each blade includes an airfoil having opposite pressure and suction sides extending radially in span between a root and tip and axially in chord between leading and trailing edges. Adjacent airfoils define corresponding flow passages therebetween for pressurizing air. Each airfoil includes stagger increasing between the root and tip, and the flow passage has a mouth between the airfoil leading edge and the suction side of an adjacent airfoil and converges to a throat aft from the mouth. The row includes no more than twenty fan blades having low tip solidity for increasing the width of the passage throat.

Abstract: An airfoil having a root, a tip, and an outer surface for pressuring air flowable thereover. The outer surface includes one or more slots elongate in a direction selected to preclude or reduce circulation within the slots, and the one or more slots are configured to bleed a boundary layer from the outer surface to the tip utilizing one or more passageways within the airfoil.

Abstract: A method for assembling an articulated fan front frame for a gas turbine engine facilitates improving engine performance. The method includes forming a strut including a pair of sidewalls connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, forming a flap including a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending in radial span between a root endwall and a tip endwall, wherein each endwall extends between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein at least one of the root endwall and the tip endwall is contoured in a radial direction extending between the flap leading and trailing edges, and pivotally coupling the flap downstream from the strut such that a gap is defined between the flap and the strut.

Abstract: A method for assembling an articulated fan front frame for a gas turbine engine facilitates improving engine performance. The method includes forming a strut including a pair of sidewalls connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, forming a flap including a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending in radial span between a root endwall and a tip endwall, wherein each endwall extends between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein at least one of the root endwall and the tip endwall is contoured in a radial direction extending between the flap leading and trailing edges, and pivotally coupling the flap downstream from the strut such that a gap is defined between the flap and the strut.

Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip plate, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall extends in radial span between an airfoil root and the tip plate. Furthermore, the first sidewall defines a pressure side of the airfoil. The second sidewall is connected to the first sidewall at the leading and trailing edges, and extends in radial span between the airfoil root and the tip plate. The second sidewall defines a suction side of the airfoil. The tip plate includes at least one groove that extends substantially between the first and second sidewalls.

Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip plate, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall extends in radial span between an airfoil root and the tip plate. Furthermore, the first sidewall defines a pressure side of the airfoil. The second sidewall is connected to the first sidewall at the leading and trailing edges, and extends in radial span between the airfoil root and the tip plate. The second sidewall defines a suction side of the airfoil. The tip plate includes at least one groove that extends substantially between the first and second sidewalls.

Abstract: An air bleed assembly for extracting air from a flowpath in a gas turbine engine includes a casing for surrounding a row of circumferentially spaced apart rotor blades and defining at least in part the flowpath for receiving air compressed by the rotor blades. The casing includes a bleed port disposed downstream of a row of the blades for receiving a portion of the compressed air as bleed airflow and a bleed duct extending away from the bleed port. The bleed duct has an annular slot in the casing. The annular slot has annular slot leading and trailing edges and an annular bifurcated splitter disposed along at least a portion of the annular slot trailing edge. The bifurcated splitter has an annular leading edge forebody located upstream of and separated from an annular splitter wall by an annular return channel. In one embodiment of the invention, the rotor blades are fan blades and the annular bleed space is in the flowpath in a fan section of the engine.