Method of fabricating a shape memory alloy damped structure
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRobert L. Villhard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damped blade is provided that includes a blade structural member defining at least one coolant channel and a liner formed of a shape memory alloy extending at least partially along the at least one coolant channel defined by the blade structural member. The shape memory alloy that forms the liner is maintained generally at its transition temperature by means of coolant circulated through the coolant channel. The shape memory alloy that forms the liner will resist the onset of vibrations within the blade, thereby effectively damping blade vibrations. A method of fabricating a damped blade is also provided.
Claims6
A method of fabricating a blade comprising:
- positioning a liner formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA) within a mold;
- filling the mold with an at least partially molten blade material having a lower melting temperature than the shape memory alloy such that the blade material at least partially surrounds the liner;
- permitting the blade material to at least partially solidify;
- and
- removing the mold to thereby produce the blade having the liner at least partially embedded therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.