Rotor for a ducted fan engine

A rotor for a ducted fan engine, the rotor comprising:

• a plurality of rotor blades arranged circumferentially, each of the plurality rotor blades having (i) a blade body with a root section configured to be connected to a drive shaft to receive a primary driving load to provide a primary load path and (ii) a tip section at an opposing end of the blade body;
• and
• a rotationally symmetrical load bearing element being in force transferring contact with the plurality of blade bodies in a load bearing section located between the root section and the tip section, to provide a secondary load path for at least a part of reaction loads of the blade bodies,
• wherein the blade body of each of the plurality of rotor blades is made of a composite material, comprising a polymeric matrix and continuous reinforcing fibres embedded in the polymeric matrix, and
• wherein the rotationally symmetrical load bearing element is made of a composite material, comprising a polymeric matrix and chopped reinforcing fibres embedded in the polymeric matrix.

A method of forming a rotor comprising:

• molding a composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and continuous reinforcing fibres into a cavity forming a rotor blade having a blade body with a root section to be connected to a drive shaft to receive a primary driving load and a tip section at an opposite end of the blade body;
• arranging a plurality of such rotor blades into a rotor mold;
• and
• molding a composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and chopped reinforcing fibres into a cavity forming a load bearing element, wherein such load bearing element is formed in force transferring contact with the plurality of blade bodies in a load bearing section located between the root section and the tip section, to provide a secondary load path for at least a part of reaction loads of the blade bodies.