Aeroengines – Conservative Design Contra Fibre Reinforced Materials?

Abstract

Current aeroengines are typically manufactured using isotropic metallic materials. Ever since anisotropic material have been available, designers have wanted to use them to obtain a maximum reduction in weight. Especially the application of fiber reinforced composites, which seem to have an extremely good specific strength and stiffness, is desirable. Apart from a few exceptions a capacious propagation of these materials could not be observed. This paper wants to help the reader in finding an answer, whether or not a chance will exist in future for composite materials in aeroengine applications. Some approaches will be presented where fiber reinforced materials have been used as a basis for new design. In detail fiber reinforced concepts for an aeroengine application in bladed rings and disks will be discussed.