Method and Tool Set for Manufacturing a Composite Component

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a composite component. A preform for the component is laid-up on a lay-up tool so that a first surface of the preform conforms to a lay-up profile of the tool. The preform is transferred to a forming tool comprising opposing first and second forming surfaces, each having a near net shape profile corresponding to a respective side of the component. The preform is formed in the forming tool to a near net shape of the component. The preform has a preform bulk in excess of the near net shape of the component prior to forming, and the lay-up profile is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface to accommodate a proportion of the preform bulk. Accordingly, both the first surface and an opposing second surface of the preform displace during forming to conform to the respective near net shape profiles of the forming surfaces.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a composite component, comprising: laying-up a preform for the composite component on a lay-up tool so that a first surface of the preform conforms to a lay-up profile of the lay-up tool; transferring the preform to a forming tool comprising opposing first and second forming surfaces, each having a near net shape profile corresponding to a respective side of the component; and forming the preform in the forming tool to a near net shape of the component; wherein the preform has a preform bulk in excess of the near net shape of the component prior to forming; and wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool to accommodate a proportion of the preform bulk, so as to permit the preform bulk to exceed the near net shape for the component on opposing sides of the preform; whereby both the first surface and an opposing second surface of the preform displace during forming to conform to the respective near net shape profiles of the forming surfaces of the forming tool.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool to accommodate approximately half of the preform bulk.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset from the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool so that forming the preform in the forming tool causes: the first surface of the preform to displace by a first surface displacement distribution to adopt the near net shape profile of the second forming surface of the forming tool; and the second surface of the preform to displace by a second surface displacement distribution to adopt the near net shape profile of the second forming surface of the forming tool.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first and second surface displacement distributions are equal and opposite one another.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the near net shape of the component has a variable thickness distribution between the respective sides of the component, and wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of forming tool in proportion to the variable thickness.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the component is a blade body for an aerofoil structure, such as a fan blade for a gas turbine engine, and wherein the lay-up profile corresponds to at least a blade root of the blade body.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a blade root portion of the preform has a plane of symmetry (S) between the first and second surfaces of the preform, prior to forming in the forming tool.

8. A tool set for forming a composite component, comprising: a lay-up tool having a lay-up profile and configured to impart the lay-up profile on a first surface of a preform for the component; and a forming tool configured to form the preform to a near net shape of the component, the forming tool comprising opposing first and second forming surfaces, each having a near net shape profile corresponding to a respective side of the component; wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool to accommodate a proportion of a preform bulk of the preform exceeding the near net shape of the component on opposing sides of the preform; such that in use the first surface of a preform laid up on the lay-up tool is displaced during forming to conform to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool.

9. A tool set according to claim 8, wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the respective forming surface of the forming tool to accommodate a proportion of a preform bulk, the preform bulk corresponding to between 4% and 12% of a local thickness of the near net shape defined by the forming tool.

10. A tool set according to claim 8, wherein the near net shape of the component has a variable thickness distribution, and wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool has a variable offset distribution which is in proportion to the variable thickness distribution of the near net shape of the component.

11. A tool set according to claim 8, wherein the tool set is for manufacturing a fan blade body including a blade root, wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool corresponds to at least the blade root.

12. A composite blade body manufactured by a method comprising: laying-up a preform for the composite blade body on a lay-up tool so that a first surface of the preform conforms to a lay-up profile of the lay-up tool; transferring the preform to a forming tool comprising opposing first and second forming surfaces, each having a near net shape profile corresponding to a respective side of the blade body; and forming the preform in the forming tool to a near net shape of the blade body; wherein the preform has a preform bulk in excess of the near net shape of the blade body prior to forming; and wherein the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool to accommodate a proportion of the preform bulk, so as to permit the preform bulk to exceed the near net shape for the blade body on opposing sides of the preform; whereby both the first surface and an opposing second surface of the preform displace during forming to conform to the respective near net shape profiles of the forming surfaces of the forming tool.

13. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a gas turbine engine;

[0036] FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically shows lay-up and de-bulking of a preform for a fan blade body on a tool according to the prior art;

[0037] FIG. 4 schematically shows lay-up of a preform for a fan blade body on a lay-up tool;

[0038] FIG. 5 schematically shows a tool set including the lay-up tool of FIG. 4 and a forming tool;

[0039] FIGS. 6 and 7 show forming of the preform of FIG. 4 on the forming tool;

[0040] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a fan blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates a gas turbine engine 10 having a principal rotational axis 9. The engine 10 comprises an air intake 12 and a propulsive fan 23 that generates two airflows: a core airflow A and a bypass airflow B. The gas turbine engine 10 comprises a core 11 that receives the core airflow A. The engine core 11 comprises, in axial flow series, a low pressure compressor 14, a high-pressure compressor 15, combustion equipment 16, a high-pressure turbine 17, a low pressure turbine 19 and a core exhaust nozzle 20. A nacelle 21 surrounds the gas turbine engine 10 and defines a bypass duct 22 and a bypass exhaust nozzle 18. The bypass airflow B flows through the bypass duct 22. The fan 23 is attached to and driven by the low pressure turbine 19 via a shaft 26 and an epicyclic gearbox 30.

[0042] In use, the core airflow A is accelerated and compressed by the low pressure compressor 14 and directed into the high pressure compressor 15 where further compression takes place. The compressed air exhausted from the high pressure compressor 15 is directed into the combustion equipment 16 where it is mixed with fuel and the mixture is combusted. The resultant hot combustion products then expand through, and thereby drive, the high pressure and low pressure turbines 17, 19 before being exhausted through the nozzle 20 to provide some propulsive thrust. The high pressure turbine 17 drives the high pressure compressor 15 by a suitable interconnecting shaft 27. The fan 23 generally provides the majority of the propulsive thrust. The epicyclic gearbox 30 is a reduction gearbox.

[0043] Other gas turbine engines to which the present disclosure may be applied may have alternative configurations. For example, such engines may have an alternative number of compressors and/or turbines and/or an alternative number of interconnecting shafts. By way of further example, the gas turbine engine shown in FIG. 1 has a split flow nozzle 20, 22 meaning that the flow through the bypass duct 22 has its own nozzle that is separate to and radially outside the core engine nozzle 20. However, this is not limiting, and any aspect of the present disclosure may also apply to engines in which the flow through the bypass duct 22 and the flow through the core 11 are mixed, or combined, before (or upstream of) a single nozzle, which may be referred to as a mixed flow nozzle. One or both nozzles (whether mixed or split flow) may have a fixed or variable area. Whilst the described example relates to a turbofan engine, the disclosure may apply, for example, to any type of gas turbine engine, such as an open rotor (in which the fan stage is not surrounded by a nacelle) or turboprop engine, for example. In some arrangements, the gas turbine engine 10 may not comprise a gearbox 30.

[0044] The geometry of the gas turbine engine 10, and components thereof, is defined by a conventional axis system, comprising an axial direction (which is aligned with the rotational axis 9), a radial direction (in the bottom-to-top direction in FIG. 1), and a circumferential direction (perpendicular to the page in the FIG. 1 view). The axial, radial and circumferential directions are mutually perpendicular.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a previously-considered example lay-up tool 30 for a preform 40 corresponding to a fan blade for a gas turbine. The tool 30 is for a composite fan blade body comprising a radially-inner root for insertion into a hub, and a radially-outer aerofoil core for rotation in the annulus of the turbine to accelerate air. A composite fan blade body may be provided with additional components to complete manufacture of a fan blade, such as protective leading edge and tip metalwork which may be bonded to the aerofoil core. References herein to a radial direction refer to a direction along which the fan blade is designed to extend when installed in a fan. It may be equivalent to a spanwise direction of the fan blade. In this example the cross-sectional view is parallel with the radial direction and normal to a chord-wise direction of the fan blade (i.e. of the preform for the fan blade).

[0046] The view in FIG. 2 is partial as it shows a root portion 32 of the tool corresponding to a root of the fan blade, and only a minor part of an aerofoil portion 34 of the tool, corresponding to a proximal (i.e. closest to the root) part of the aerofoil core. The dashed line adjacent the truncated aerofoil portion of the tool (and preform, vacuum bag) indicates that the respective elements of the drawing continue beyond the partial view.

[0047] The lay-up tool 30 defines a lay-up surface 36 having a lay-up profile corresponding to a near net shape of a first side of the fan blade. The root of the fan blade is to have a thick root (i.e. along a thickness direction normal to the radial direction and a chordwise direction of the blade at the root) for engaging the hub of the fan and reacting centrifugal forces on the fan blade at the hub. In this simplified example, the root has a proximal portion of constant thickness, and a tapering neck portion which tapers towards the aerofoil core of the fan blade. In this example the root is symmetrical with respect to the radial direction.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a preform 40 that has been applied onto the lay-up tool by successive application of plies of fibre-reinforcement material (e.g. pre-preg carbon fibre reinforced polymer) in a layer-wise manner. A lowest ply of the preform 40 therefore conforms to the profile of the lay-up surface 36 of the lay-up tool, which itself corresponds to the near net shape of the first side of the fan blade.

[0049] An uppermost ply 42 of the preform 40 does not conform to a near net shape of an opposing second side of the fan blade. Instead, the preform 40 is applied to incorporate a preform bulk which in this example corresponds to 10% of the thickness of the net shape profile of the fan blade (though in other examples it may be another amount, such as between 4-12% of the thickness of the net shape profile). This is illustrated in FIG. 2 by a virtual line 44 which corresponds to the near net shape profile of the second side of the fan blade, and a preform bulk portion 46 of the preform which exceeds the near net shape of the fan blade by 10%. In this example, the virtual line 44 is a mirror image of the lay-up surface 36 at the root, as the root of the fan blade is to be symmetrical about the radial plane.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a vacuum bag 50 applied over the preform and sealed with the tool 30 (not shown at the distal end of the tool) in readiness for forming.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the preform 40 on the tool 30 following forming of the preform under elevated temperature and pressure to consolidate the preform 40. The preform bulk in the preform 40 is removed during forming such that the uppermost ply 42 of the preform displaces to correspond to the near net shape profile of the second side of the fan blade. The displacement is illustrated in FIG. 4 by arrows showing movement of the vacuum bag 50. A region of the preform 47 corresponding to the preform bulk portion 46 of the preform prior to forming is shown in shaded view, to illustrate that the plies corresponding to the preform bulk portion 46 have been displaced, rather than removed.

[0052] Accordingly, the highest displacement during forming is typically the displacement of the uppermost ply 42 and the neighbouring plies, with no or low displacement of the lower most ply adjacent the lay-up surface.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an example lay-up tool 130 according to the invention which differs from the lay-up tool 30 of FIGS. 2 and 3 in that a lay-up profile 136 defined by a lay-up surface of the lay-up tool 130 is offset relative to the near net shape profile of a corresponding side of a fan blade to accommodate a proportion of a preform bulk. Accordingly, in a preform 140 formed on the tool, the preform bulk is distributed over both first and second sides of the preform, such that for the same net total of preform bulk (e.g. 10% of net shape thickness) the largest displacement of plies in the preform is reduced, as compared with the preform 40 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0054] In this example, the lay-up tool 130 is provided in a tool set including a forming tool having a first forming surface which defines the near net shape profile of a respective first side of the fan blade, as will be described in further detail below. Accordingly, the offset of the lay-up profile 136 can be assessed with respect to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the example lay-up tool 130 for laying up the preform 140 corresponding to a fan blade body for a fan blade of a gas turbine. The tool 130 is for a fan blade body comprising a radially-inner root for insertion into a hub, and a radially-outer aerofoil core for rotation in the annulus of the turbine to accelerate air. In this example the cross-sectional view is parallel with the radial direction and normal to a chord-wise direction of the fan blade (i.e. of the preform for the fan blade), as in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0056] The view in FIG. 4 is partial as it shows a root portion 132 of the tool corresponding to a root of the fan blade body, and only a minor part of an aerofoil portion 134 of the tool, corresponding to a proximal (i.e. closest to the root) part of the aerofoil core. The dashed line adjacent the truncated aerofoil portion of the tool (and preform, vacuum bag) indicates that the respective elements of the drawing continue beyond the partial view.

[0057] The root of the fan blade body is to have a thick root (i.e. along a thickness direction normal to the radial direction and a chordwise direction of the blade at the root) for engaging the hub of the fan and reacting centrifugal forces on the fan blade body at the hub. In this simplified example, the root has a proximal portion of constant thickness, and a tapering neck portion which tapers towards the aerofoil core of the fan blade body. In this example the root is symmetrical with respect to the radial direction.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows the lay-up tool 130 with the preform 140 as applied onto the tool, but prior to forming so that it incorporates a preform bulk. The preform 140 is applied onto the lay-up tool by successive application of plies of fibre-reinforcement material (e.g. pre-preg carbon fibre reinforced polymer) in a layer-wise manner. A lowest ply of the preform 140 therefore conforms to the lay-up profile 136 of the lay-up surface of the lay-up tool 130.

[0059] In this example, the preform bulk corresponds to 10% of the thickness of the near net shape of the fan blade body. The near net shape of the fan blade body is defined by the forming tool as will be described in further detail below. However, for illustrative purposes the near net shape of the fan blade body is shown within the preform 140 by a first side profile 174 corresponding to the near net shape profile of a first forming surface of the forming tool (which defines the near net shape of the first side of the fan blade body) and by a second side profile 178 corresponding to the near net shape profile of a second forming surface of the forming tool (which defines the near net shape of the second side of the fan blade body). Outer portions 175, 179 of the preform between the lowermost ply and the first side profile 174; and between the uppermost ply and the second side profile 178 correspond to the preform bulk of the preform 140.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the lay-up profile 136 is offset relative to the first side profile 174 representing the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool, so as to accommodate a proportion of the preform bulk. In this simplified example, the offset is apparent from the taper of a neck portion of the lay-up profile as compared with the corresponding taper of the first side profile 174 (i.e. the first forming surface 164). In particular, the taper is steeper in the lay-up profile 136 than the taper in the first side profile 174 (i.e. the first forming surface 164). In other examples, the offset may be apparent from differences in other corresponding features. For example, a local curvature may be lower in the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool than in the first forming surface of the forming tool, and the extent of the of lay-up profile along the thickness direction between a maximum and a minimum will be greater than the corresponding extent of the first forming surface.

[0061] In this example, the lay-up profile 136 of the lay-up tool 130 is offset to accommodate half of the preform bulk. Accordingly, in this example, a profile of an uppermost ply 142 of the preform 140 mirrors the profile of the lowermost ply of the preform (which conforms to the lay-up profile 136 of the lay-up tool 130) in the root, and the first and second surfaces of the preform defined by the lowermost ply and the uppermost ply respectively are symmetrical about a plane of symmetry S prior to forming (which in this example corresponds to the radial plane).

[0062] In this example, the preform 140 is transferred to the forming tool 160 for forming. FIG. 5 shows the tool set including the lay-up tool 130 and the forming tool 160, which comprises a first forming element 162 having the first forming surface 164 as described above, and an opposing second forming element 166 having the second forming surface 168 as described above.

[0063] As the fan blade body is to be symmetrical in the root, the first and second forming surfaces 164, 168 are mirror images of one another, though in other examples the fan blade body may not be symmetrical in the root, and the forming surfaces may not mirror one another accordingly. The construction lines in FIG. 5 illustrate the offset of the lay-up profile 136 of the lay-up tool with respect to the first forming surface 164 of the first forming element 162. In particular, it can be seen that the offset between the lay-up surface of the lay-up tool and the first forming surface of the forming tool scales with local thickness of the root, such that the offset is greater for relatively thicker portions of the root and less for relatively thinner portions of the root. This reflects that the amount of preform bulk to be accommodated is generally proportional to the local thickness. In other words, there is a variable offset distribution between the lay-up profile of the lay-up tool and the near net shape profile of the first forming surface of the forming tool, which is in proportion to a variable thickness distribution of the near net shape of the component (as defined by the forming surface of the forming tool).

[0064] As shown in FIG. 6, in this particular example, the preform 140 is transferred to the forming tool 160 so that the lowermost ply of the preform 140 which was supported on the lay-up surface of the lay-up tool 130 is supported on the first forming surface 164 of the first forming element 162 of the forming tool. The second forming element 166 is placed over the preform so that the second forming surface 168 engages the uppermost ply 142 of the preform 140, in the manner of a caul plate. The preform 140 is then cured under elevated pressure and temperature between the first and second forming elements 162, 166 of the forming tool. For example, a vacuum bag 150 may be applied over the forming tool, and a vacuum applied to the forming tool and preform to apply pressure. The forming tool may be heated by one or more heaters, or the forming tool may be placed in an oven or autoclave.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 7, as the first and second forming elements 162, 166 are drawn together to consolidate the preform 140 between them, both the lowermost ply and the opposing uppermost ply (i.e. a first surface and opposing second surface) of the preform displace during forming to conform to the respective near net shape profiles of the forming surfaces 164, 168 of the first and second forming elements 162, 166 of the forming tool 160. Accordingly, the near net shape profile and the thickness variation of the blade body is defined by the cooperating configuration of the forming elements 162, 166. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer regions 175, 179 of the preform 140 which correspond to preform bulk prior to forming are displaced so as to conform to the near net shape profiles of the first and second forming surfaces 164, 168.

[0066] The amount by which the lowermost and uppermost ply is displaced during forming may vary over the respective surface, such that during forming, at least in the root, there is a first surface displacement distribution at the lowermost ply and a second surface displacement distribution at the uppermost ply to adopt the near net shape profiles of the respective forming surfaces of the first and second forming elements of the forming tool. In this particular example, the two distributions are equal and opposite one another, since the lay-up profile is offset to accommodate half of the preform bulk, and the forming surfaces are mirror images of one another in the root. Similarly, the profiles of the lowermost and uppermost ply in the root are symmetrical about a plane of symmetry S (as shown in FIG. 4), which in this example is aligned with the radial plane.

[0067] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a composite component, which illustrates the lay-up and forming steps described above with respect to FIGS. 4-7, and will briefly be described with reference to the tool set (130, 160) and preform 140 of FIGS. 4-7.

[0068] In block 72, the preform 140 for the fan blade body is applied on the lay-up surface of the lay-up tool 130, by laying up successive plies of fibre reinforcement material in a layer-wise manner. The preform incorporates a preform bulk equivalent to approximately 10% of the thickness of the near net shape of the fan blade boy.

[0069] In block 74, the preform 140 is transferred to the first forming element 162 of the forming tool 160 so that the lowermost ply which was supported on the lay-up surface of the lay-up tool is supported on the first forming surface 164 of the forming tool.

[0070] In block 76, the second forming element 166 is applied over the preform 140, and the forming tool 160 is operated to place the preform 140 under elevated temperature and pressure so as to form the preform to the near net shape of the fan blade body as defined by the near net shape profiles of the first and second forming surfaces 164, 168 of the first and second forming elements 162, 166 of the forming tool 160.

[0071] In block 78, the formed fan blade body is removed from the forming tool and is machined to net shape (i.e. the final shape of the fan blade body). The fan blade body can be incorporated into a gas turbine, such as the example gas turbine of FIG. 1.

[0072] By offsetting the lay-up profile of the lay-up surface of the lay-up tool relative the near net shape profile of a respective side of the component (i.e. the near net shape profile defined by a respective one of the forming surfaces) to accommodate preform bulk (which may be referred to as “lay-up offsetting”), the invention minimises the largest displacement at either side of the preform during forming. This helps to reduce forming defects, such as wrinkling, which may arise owing to high displacements.

[0073] It has also been previously proposed to conduct intermediate consolidation during lay-up, for example by applying a vacuum bag over a partially laid preform, and consolidating the preform under elevated pressure and/or temperature. Intermediate consolidation also mitigates against excessive displacement, as a preform bulk is only permitted to accumulate over a limited portion of the preform between intermediate consolidations.

[0074] Such techniques (i.e. lay-up offsetting and intermediate consolidation) may be used together or in isolation. Lay-up offsetting may enable an amount (i.e. a frequency) of intermediate consolidation to be reduced without adversely affecting forming results, or it may be used in place of intermediate consolidation.

[0075] By accommodating preform bulk on both sides of a preform, the displacement distribution to reach the near net shape during forming may be symmetrical. In contrast, when preform bulk accumulates on one side of a preform only, it may be more less likely that the uppermost ply can conform to the near net shape (especially without forming defects), such that excess material to be machined away after forming may predominantly be located on one side of the component. Accordingly, after machining, one side of the component may have a ply which defines or closely follows the surface of the component, whereas the opposing side may have plies which terminate partway along the surface (i.e. where they have been machined), which may adversely affect structural properties and surface finish. By permitting preform bulk to accumulate equally on both sides of the preform, the largest displacement of any ply may be reduced (as explained above), such that each side of the preform may conform to the near net shape profile of the respective forming surface. Accordingly, the profile of the component after forming and before machining may more closely correspond to the net shape of the component—for example each side of the component may have a ply which defines or closely follows the surface of the component.

[0076] It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.