Method and system for elastic bearing support

A method of reducing loads in a rotor assembly during an imbalance condition, said method comprising:

• supporting the rotor assembly using a load reduction device, the load reduction device including:
• (i) a shaft extension extending between a bearing assembly and a shaft of the rotor assembly forming a load path therebetween, and (ii) an annular recoupler member extending between the bearing assembly and the shaft forming a second load path parallel to the first load path;
• failing the shaft extension when a rotor assembly load through the load reduction device exceeds a predetermined range;
• carrying the rotor assembly load through the load reduction device solely through the annular recoupler member;
• and
• wherein the shaft extension includes a first portion coupled to the bearing assembly, a second portion coupled to the shaft of the rotor assembly, and a fusible member positioned between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein failing the shaft extension comprises failing the fusible member of the shaft extension to disconnect the first portion from the second portion during a fan bladeout event.

A method of reducing loads in a rotor assembly during an imbalance condition, said method comprising:

• supporting the rotor assembly using a load reduction device, the load reduction device including:
• (i) a shaft extension extending between a bearing assembly and a shaft of the rotor assembly forming a load path therebetween, and (ii) an annular recoupler member extending between the bearing assembly and the shaft forming a second load path parallel to the first load path;
• failing the shaft extension when a rotor assembly load through the load reduction device exceeds a predetermined range;
• carrying the rotor assembly load through the load reduction device solely through the annular recoupler member;
• and
• wherein supporting the rotor assembly comprises supporting the rotor assembly using both the shaft extension and the recoupler member while a crystal structure of the recoupler member is in a first structure, and wherein failing the shaft extension comprises transitioning the crystal structure of the recoupler member to a second structure.