ROBUST DISCONTINUOUSLY REINFORCED ALUMINUM STATOR VANES FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINES

A critical need exists to extend the service life of aging military gas turbine engine components without compromising their performance requirements. Issues have been raised concerning the durability of components fabricated from organic matrix composites matrix composites (OMC's), namely their low resistance to foreign object damage (FOD) and accelerated erosion. Triton Systems has teamed up with a major aircraft engine manufacturer to introduce lightweight, robust discontinuously reinforced aluminum (DRA) into stator vanes. The Phase I program will address the critical need for improving FOD and fatigue resistance by replacing existing high temperature organic matrix materials with DRA material produced by pressure infiltration. Pressure infiltration casting enables near net shape processing of complex shape geometries that cannot achieved with wrought based metal matrix composite processing methods. A subscale DRA stator vane will be fabricated to demonstrate the near net shape capability and potential for production cost savings. A fatigue resistance DRA material will be obtained t qualify material process. Triton Systems flexible manufacturing technology will enable rapid development of DRA Stator Vane and material while transitioning the technology towards FOD and erosion qualification testing and production readiness during Phase II.A critical need exists to extend the service life of aging military gas turbine engine components without compromising their performance requirements. Issues have been raised concerning the durability of components fabricated from organic matrix composites matrix composites (OMC's), namely their low resistance to foreign object damage (FOD) and accelerated erosion. Triton Systems has teamed up with a major aircraft engine manufacturer to introduce lightweight, robust discontinuously reinforced aluminum (DRA) into stator vanes. The Phase I program will address the critical need for improving FOD and fatigue resistance by replacing existing high temperature organic matrix materials with DRA material produced by pressure infiltration. Pressure infiltration casting enables near net shape processing of complex shape geometries that cannot achieved with wrought based metal matrix composite processing methods. A subscale DRA stator vane will be fabricated to demonstrate the near net shape capability and potential for production cost savings. A fatigue resistance DRA material will be obtained t qualify material process. Triton System