A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade. Also provided is a pre-aligned configuration rotor whereby the rotor geometry and orientation does not change with wind speed, and instead is fixed at a constant downwind deflection consistent with alignment at or near the rated wind speed conditions. Also provided is a twist morphing rotor where the airfoil-shapes around the spars twist relative to the wind due to aerodynamic forces so as to unload the rotors when there is a gust. This can help reduce unsteady stresses on the blade and therefore may allow for reduced blade mass and cost. The twist morphing rotor may be combined with either downwind morphing rotor or pre-alignment rotor.

A method for forming a component for a gas turbine engine may include forming a first portion of the component that includes a cast metal or metal alloy, forming a second portion of the component that includes presintered preform defining at least one support structure, positioning the second portion on the first portion to define an assembly such that the first portion and the second portion define at least one cooling channel therebetween, and heating the assembly to join the first portion and the second portion and form the component.

A method for forming a component for a gas turbine engine may include forming a first portion of the component that includes a cast metal or metal alloy, forming a second portion of the component that includes presintered preform defining at least one support structure, positioning the second portion on the first portion to define an assembly such that the first portion and the second portion define at least one cooling channel therebetween, and heating the assembly to join the first portion and the second portion and form the component.

A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

There is provided a blade tip for a rotary blade. The blade tip is formed of a metal foam and comprises at least one vortex generator. The vortex generator may comprise at least one passageway and/or cavity in the blade tip. In use, a vortex is created between the blade tip and a fan casing adjacent the blade tip.

Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates.

A wind turbine blade assembly includes a first blade half and a second blade half fixed to the first blade half, defining a blade interior therebetween. The wind turbine blade assembly includes a shear web includes at least one aperture formed therein. The wind turbine blade assembly includes at least one bulkhead attached to the shear web, wherein the shear web and the at least one bulkhead are disposed in the blade interior.

A blade includes an aerodynamic portion (21) and an assembly of the aerodynamic portion to a blade shank retaining the aerodynamic portion in a radial direction (23). The blade shank includes at least one passage restriction in at least one retention direction orthogonal to the radial direction, having a restricted width allowing the aerodynamic portion (21) to pass through. The base of the aerodynamic portion (21) has an overall dimension which is strictly greater than the restricted width so that, in the event of rupture of the assembly, the base is able to come into abutment against the passage restriction so as to retain the aerodynamic portion (21) in the blade shank (20).

A compressor wheel for an internal combustion engine may include a plurality of blades which in a circumferential direction of the wheel are spaced from one another. The plurality of blades may respectively include an inflow edge which during operation are subject to an inflow of a compressible fluid substantially axially to the wheel axis. The plurality of blades may include a surface layer of locally distinct materials to adapt to locally distinct loads during operation.

A propeller blade comprises a root, a tip distal from the root, a trailing edge extending from the root to the tip, a trailing edge, e.g. foam, insert, a shell forming an outer surface of the propeller blade and a plurality of stitches of yam extending through two parts of the shell adjacent the trailing edge, wherein the yarns do not extend through the trailing edge insert.