Yasushi Sofue

Mechanical Behavior of Anti-Symmetrically Laminated Composite Blades

Anti-symmetrically laminated composites have coupling effects between tensile stress and twisting deformation, and are very attractive as fan blade materials of aircraft engines. Blades fabricated by anti-symmetrically laminated composites can automatically adjust the stagger angle to better aerodynamic conditions with change of axial force or rotational speed owing to the coupling effects. Thus, the anti-symmetrically laminated composite blades are expected to improve aerodynamic efficiency and the stability of aircraft engines. In this paper, the mechanical behavior of anti-symmetrically laminated composite blades is evaluated by spin tests and finite element analyses. Three kinds of blades fabricated by carbon/epoxy laminated composites in different anti-symmetrical stacking sequences were tested. A non-contact measurement technique using a multi-channel optical fiber sensor was used for measurements of blade deformations at high-speed rotating conditions, up to 10,000 rpm. The twisted angle change at the blade tip could be successfully measured. The twisted angle change increased in proportion to the second power of rotational speed, and the maximum angle change was about 4 degree at 10,000 rpm. The finite element analysis results agreed well with the spin test results. Furthermore, the three-dimensional deformation of the test blades was evaluated based on finite element analyses.Copyright