Abstract: A system includes a turbomachine with a plurality of blades, a casing disposed about the rotor and the plurality of blades, an access opening disposed in the casing, and an access panel selectively coupled to the access opening, such that the access opening is sized to enable repair or replacement of at least one blade of the plurality of blades.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor blade includes an airfoil and a root section connected to a blade platform therebetween and an at least partially curved cropped corner of the blade platform. The corner shape and size may avoid resonance of blade during engine operation. The corner may be J-shaped including a straight section extending from the pressure side edge towards the suction side edge of the platform and a curved section extending from the straight section to an uncropped portion of the platform trailing edge of the platform. A method of designing the cropped corner includes choosing shapes and sizes of the cropped corner for numerically analyzing and determining shape and size for the cropped corner using a numerical model to iteratively numerically analyze aerodynamically the cropped platform with different shapes and sizes of the cropped corner. The numerical model may be validated with engine or component testing of the blade having a cropped platform with at least one of the shapes and sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a replaceable tip element of an airfoil in a turbine engine. The airfoil has an outer wall defining an interior and including a pressure side and a suction side extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge defining a chord-wise direction and extending radially between a root and a tip defining a span-wise direction, with the tip having a replaceable tip element.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor blade includes an airfoil and a root section connected to a blade platform therebetween and an at least partially curved cropped corner of the blade platform. The corner shape and size may avoid resonance of blade during engine operation. Corner may be J-shaped including a straight section extending from pressure side edge towards suction side edge of platform and curved section extending from straight section to uncropped portion of platform trailing edge of the platform. A method of designing the cropped corner includes choosing shapes sizes of the cropped corner for numerically analyzing and determining shape and size for cropped corner using numerical model to iteratively numerically analyze aerodynamically cropped platform with different shapes and sizes of cropped corner. Numerical model may be validated with engine or component testing of blade having a cropped platform with at least one of the shapes and sizes.

Abstract: A system includes a turbomachine with a plurality of blades, a casing disposed about the rotor and the plurality of blades, an access opening disposed in the casing, and an access panel selectively coupled to the access opening, such that the access opening is sized to enable repair or replacement of at least one blade of the plurality of blades.

Abstract: Hybrid turbine airfoil components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials. The components include a first component formed of a ceramic-based material and a second component formed of a metallic material. The first component comprises an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second component is separately formed and attached to the first component by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first component. The second component includes a platform portion between the airfoil portion and the nub of the first component and a dovetail portion on the nub of the first component. Each of the platform and dovetail portions has at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second component having a more complex geometry than the first component.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil component assembly for use with a turbine engine including a attachment assembly having an inner surface defining a cavity. The attachment assembly includes a metal alloy substrate. An airfoil assembly is at least partially positioned within the attachment assembly and extends outwardly from the attachment assembly. The airfoil assembly includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate. A reaction barrier coating is disposed over at least a portion of the airfoil assembly. The reaction barrier coating is positioned between the attachment assembly and the airfoil assembly.

Abstract: Hybrid components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the components. The components includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has a nub and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent is attached to the first subcomponent by a compression fit and encapsulation of the second subcomponent on the nub of the first subcomponent. The nub has a compliant coating system that provides thermal expansion compliance between the metallic material of the second subcomponent and the ceramic-based material of the first subcomponent.

Abstract: A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.

Abstract: Processes for producing a component containing a ceramic-based material and having detailed features formed from materials other than ceramic materials. Such a process entails producing the component to include a first subcomponent and at least a second subcomponent having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent is formed of a ceramic-based material, and the second subcomponent and its off-axis geometric feature are separately formed of a metallic material and attached to the first subcomponent to yield a robust mechanical attachment. The component may be, for example, a gas turbine airfoil component.

Abstract: A method and system for nondestructively detecting and quantifying material anomalies within materials, including composite articles. The method entails performing a three-dimensional imaging scan technique, such as a computed tomography scan, of the material and a reference standard such that a test image of the material and a reference image of the reference standard appear in a plurality of two-dimensional scan views generated by the scan technique. The reference images are located in the scan views and normalized to determine at least an average value of the pixel data for the reference images. Values of pixel data of the test image are determined in each scan view, and then compared to the pixel data of the reference images to detect the presence of an anomaly in the test images. The detected anomaly in at least one of the test images of the scan views is then compared to a requirement standard for the material.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil component assembly for use with a turbine engine including a attachment assembly having an inner surface defining a cavity. The attachment assembly includes a metal alloy substrate. An airfoil assembly is at least partially positioned within the attachment assembly and extends outwardly from the attachment assembly. The airfoil assembly includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate. A reaction barrier coating is disposed over at least a portion of the airfoil assembly. The reaction barrier coating is positioned between the attachment assembly and the airfoil assembly.

Abstract: Processes for producing a component containing a ceramic-based material and having detailed features formed from materials other than ceramic materials. Such a process entails producing the component to include a first subcomponent and at least a second subcomponent having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent is formed of a ceramic-based material, and the second subcomponent and its off-axis geometric feature are separately formed of a metallic material and attached to the first subcomponent to yield a robust mechanical attachment. The component may be, for example, a gas turbine airfoil component.

Abstract: Hybrid components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the components. The components includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has a nub and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent is attached to the first subcomponent by a compression fit and encapsulation of the second subcomponent on the nub of the first subcomponent. The nub has a compliant coating system that provides thermal expansion compliance between the metallic material of the second subcomponent and the ceramic-based material of the first subcomponent.

Abstract: A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.

Abstract: Hybrid turbine airfoil components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials. The components include a first component formed of a ceramic-based material and a second component formed of a metallic material. The first component comprises an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second component is separately formed and attached to the first component by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first component. The second component includes a platform portion between the airfoil portion and the nub of the first component and a dovetail portion on the nub of the first component. Each of the platform and dovetail portions has at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second component having a more complex geometry than the first component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a mounting assembly for a liner of a gas turbine engine combustor are provided. The combustor includes a combustor liner and a radially outer annular flow sleeve. The mounting assembly includes an inner ring surrounding a radially outer surface of the liner and including a plurality of axially extending fingers. The mounting assembly also includes a radially outer ring coupled to the inner ring through a plurality of spacers that extend radially from a radially outer surface of the inner ring to the outer ring.

Abstract: A method and system for nondestructively detecting and quantifying material anomalies within materials, including composite articles. The method entails performing a three-dimensional imaging scan technique, such as a computed tomography scan, of the material and a reference standard such that a test image of the material and a reference image of the reference standard appear in a plurality of two-dimensional scan views generated by the scan technique. The reference images are located in the scan views and normalized to determine at least an average value of the pixel data for the reference images. Values of pixel data of the test image are determined in each scan view, and then compared to the pixel data of the reference images to detect the presence of an anomaly in the test images. The detected anomaly in at least one of the test images of the scan views is then compared to a requirement standard for the material.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite with a ceramic matrix and a gradient layering of coating on ceramic fibers. The coating typically improves the performance of the composite in one direction while degrading it in another direction. For a SiC-SiC ceramic matrix composite, a BN coating is layered in a gradient fashion or in a step-wise fashion in different regions of the article comprising the ceramic. The BN coating thickness is applied over the ceramic fibers to produce varying desired physical properties by varying the coating thickness within differing regions of the composite, thereby tailoring the strength of the composite in the different regions. The coating may be applied as a single layer as a multi-layer coating to enhance the performance of the coating as the ceramic matrix is formed or infiltrated from precursor materials into a preform of the ceramic fibers.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite with a ceramic matrix and a gradient layering of coating on ceramic fibers. The coating typically improves the performance of the composite in one direction while degrading it in another direction. For a SiC-SiC ceramic matrix composite, a BN coating is layered in a gradient fashion or in a step-wise fashion in different regions of the article comprising the ceramic. The BN coating thickness is applied over the ceramic fibers to produce varying desired physical properties by varying the coating thickness within differing regions of the composite, thereby tailoring the strength of the composite in the different regions. The coating may be applied as a single layer as a multi-layer coating to enhance the performance of the coating as the ceramic matrix is formed or infiltrated from precursor materials into a preform of the ceramic fibers.