ADVANCED AIRCRAFT ENGINES REQUIRE ADVANCED MATERIALS TO MEET THEIR GOALS OF PERFORMANCE, THRUST-TO-WEIGHT RATIO AND FUEL EFFICIENCY.

ADVANCED AIRCRAFT ENGINES REQUIRE ADVANCED MATERIALS TO MEET THEIR GOALS OF PERFORMANCE, THRUST-TO-WEIGHT RATIO AND FUEL EFFICIENCY. FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GAINS IN PERFORMANCE AND WEIGHT REDUCTION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF STIFFERS, STRONGER AND LIGHTER WEIGHT MATERIALS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HIGHER OPERATION TEMPERATURES. MANY AREAS WHERE COMPOSITE MATERIALS HAVE ENHANCED STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE ARE CITED. AN INHERENT LIMITATION OF CONVENTIONAL WEAVING TECHNIQUES IS THE INABILITY TO PROVIDE OFF-AXIS OR "ANGULAR" FIBER ORIENTATION, (I.E., +/-45 DEG). THIS PROGRAM WILL ADDRESS THREE WEAVEING TECHNIQUES WHICH HAVE POTENTIAL FOR PROVIDING MULTIANGULAR FIBER ORIENTATIONS FOR COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR TURBINE ENGINE COMPONENTS. WEAVING COSTS, PREFORM PROCESSING COSTS, COMPOSITE PROPERTIES, PROCESS FLEXIBILITIES, PROCESS LIMITATIONS, ABILITY TO PRODUCE COMPLEX SHAPES WILL BE ASSESSED. A WEAVING PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR EACH PROCESS INCLUDING A COST ANALYSIS FOR REPRESENTATIVE PARTS. A FINAL REPORT WILL BE PROVIDED TO SUMMARIZE THIS EFFORT AND PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR FURTHER PHASE II DEVELOPMENT.