Experience in using anisotropic properties of composites in engineering the compressor impeller of a small-size gas turbine engine

Abstract

The use of composite materials in modern aircraft and rocket engines is one of the most promising areas. Low density and high strength characteristics of composite materials are crucial when choosing a material for small-sized compressors. The main ability to bear the load of the composite material is provided by the reinforcing fibers of the filler. The greater the percentage of filler fibers has a particular orientation, the higher the strength and rigidity of the product in this direction. If the part is loaded with forces applied primarily in one or two directions, it makes sense to create a material with anisotropy of properties that will exactly match the applied loads. For example, the disk and blades of a centrifugal compressor operate under the action of centrifugal force and gas pressure. In this case, to manufacture a centrifugal compressor impeller from composite materials, it is only necessary to redistribute the fibers in the part space in such a way as to create an optimal anisotropy of properties. This article describes the procedure for selecting the optimal orientation of reinforcing fibers in the impeller of a centrifugal compressor of a small gas turbine engine.

Novel Carbon Fibre Composite Centrifugal Impeller Design, Numerical Analysis, Manufacturing and Experimental Evaluations

“…It was concluded that the rotor had a non-linear behaviour, validated by the numerical method and a very good correlation of vibration stress states between simulation and experimental measurements has been identified. Martynyuk et al [ 17 , 18 ] have presented the possibility of using polymer composites in highly loaded propulsion systems correlated with the analysis of the centrifugal compressor impeller thermal state, illustrating that a composite centrifugal impeller could be manufactured using a heat-resistant thermosetting binder that increases the operating temperatures up to 350 °C, offering a 45% mass reduction of the impeller. A preliminary investigation of using CFRP composites in the fabrication of composite impeller blades was performed by [ 19 ], evaluating technological aspects and dimension stability of the composite blades after processing, by using 3D printed thermoplastics moulds.…”