Affordable Composite Fan Containment Case with Integral Toughening Elements

The proposed program will develop and demonstrate an affordable manufacturing approach to fabricate the latest generation of damage tolerant composite fan case designs. These designs embed a grid of stiffener ribs within the composite laminate to limit damage propagation that is initiated during the fan blade containment event. This grid blunts the crack growth and restricts damage within a safe zone that permits structural viability of the case after the blade is contained. The proposed work package will demonstrate that advanced braiding concepts can be used to fabricate these composite-toughening elements in a cost-effective manner. This economically viable fabrication method will allow widespread application of the toughened design concept and enable weight efficient, safe containment system designs for high bypass turbofan engines.