Design and Interlaminar Stress Analysis of Composite Fan Blade Shank

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• The fan blade shank is crucial for connecting the airfoil and dovetail, impacting overall blade structural integrity.
• Geometric design of the fan blade shank significantly influences its static strength and performance.
• Laminated composite materials are increasingly used in fan blades due to their favorable strength-to-weight ratios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the geometric configuration and static strength of laminated composite fan blade shanks.
• To develop a design methodology and analytical approach for optimizing shank geometry.
• To evaluate the impact of different shank configurations on stress distribution and interlaminar stress resistance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Bézier spline curve techniques to create two distinct shank configurations: thickened and thinned.
• Performed ply design and static strength analysis on the developed laminated composite fan blade shank models.
• Analyzed stress concentrations, particularly peak σ33 and interlaminar shear stress σ13, under tensile loading.

Main Results:

• Identified high-stress regions predominantly at the junction between the shank section and the leading edge of the dovetail.
• The thickened shank configuration reduced peak σ33 by approximately 15%.
• The thickened shank configuration effectively alleviated interlaminar shear stress σ13 without adverse ply drop angles.

Conclusions:

• The thickened shank configuration demonstrates superior interlaminar stress resistance under tensile loading conditions.
• Geometric optimization of the fan blade shank is critical for enhancing the structural integrity of laminated composite fan blades.
• The findings provide valuable insights for the design and analysis of advanced composite fan blade components.