RTX Corporation
AIRFOIL WITH WISHBONE FIBER STRUCTURE

Abstract:

An airfoil includes an airfoil wall that defines a leading end, a trailing end, and pressure and suction sides that join the leading end and the trailing end. The airfoil wall includes a wishbone-shaped fiber layer structure that has a pair of arms that merge into a single leg. The pair of arms are formed by first and second S-shaped fiber layers each of which is comprised of a network of fiber tows. The first and second S-shaped fiber layers merge to form the single leg. The single leg comprises fiber tows from each of the first and second S-shaped fiber layers that are interwoven, and the single leg forms at least a portion of the trailing end of the airfoil wall.