General Electric Company
FLOWPATH ASSEMBLY WITH COMPOSITE TUBE ARRAY

Abstract:

Flowpath assemblies, methods of forming flowpath assemblies, and hypersonic vehicles are provided. For example, a flowpath assembly for a combustor comprises a tube array comprising a plurality of tubes, a joining material disposed between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes to join together the adjacent tubes, a flowpath layer, and an outer layer. The plurality of tubes and the joining material are disposed between the flowpath layer and the outer layer. The flowpath layer defines a combustion flowpath. Each of the plurality of tubes, the joining material, the flowpath layer, and the outer layer are formed from a composite material. The combustor comprising the flowpath assembly may be included in a ramjet engine of a hypersonic vehicle. A fabrication method may include laying up composite plies to form a tube array including the plurality of tubes, the joining material, and the flowpath and outer layers.