Turbofan gas turbine engine with inner ring reinforcing structure and methods of producing the same

A turbofan gas turbine engine, comprising:

• a fan assembly that includes an engine rotor hub with fan blades extending radially therefrom, the fan assembly configured for rotation of the fan blades about an axis of rotation;
• a fan housing structure encircling the fan assembly and including an inner ring that defines an exposed inner surface of the fan housing structure facing the fan blades of the fan assembly, wherein the inner ring includes a radially protruding section that defines a recess on the exposed inner surface thereof encircling tips of the fan blades;
• a fan containment structure within the fan housing structure positioned circumferentially around the fan assembly and axially encircling the radially protruding section;
• and
• a reinforcing structure fixed to or integrated with an annular portion of the inner ring and disposed at a forward end of the radially protruding section, wherein the reinforcing structure is positioned to be axially encircled by the fan containment structure and forward of the tips of the fan blades, wherein the reinforcing structure is configured to provide greater impact resistance to the forward end of the radially protruding section relative to an aft end of the radially protruding section that is not in contact with the reinforcing structure.