Monolithic body including an internal passage with a generally teardrop shaped cross-sectional geometry

1. A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising:

a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;

the internal passage extending along a centerline within the monolithic body;

the internal passage having a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline; and

the cross-sectional geometry of at least a first portion of the internal passage having a teardrop shape; and

at least a first portion of the centerline following a curved trajectory.

2. The component of claim 1 , wherein

a perimeter of the teardrop shape comprises a curved segment, a first straight segment and a second straight segment that meets the first straight segment at a corner;

the curved segment has and extends circumferentially between a first curved segment end and a second curved segment end;

the first straight segment extends from the corner towards the first curved segment end; and

the second straight segment extends from the corner towards the second curved segment end.

3. The component of claim 2 , wherein the first straight segment is perpendicular to the second straight segment.

4. The component of claim 2 , wherein the first straight segment is angularly offset from the second straight segment by an angle.

5. The component of claim 4 , wherein the angle is an acute angle.

6. The component of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional geometry of a second portion of the internal passage has a circular shape.

7. The component of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional geometry of a second portion of the internal passage has a shape that is different than the teardrop shape.

8. The component of claim 1 , wherein

a second portion of the centerline follows a straight line trajectory;

a third portion of the centerline follows a straight line trajectory; and

the first portion of the centerline extends between the second portion of the centerline and the third portion of the centerline.

9. The component of claim 1 , wherein the monolithic body is configured as an inlet structure for the gas turbine engine.

10. A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising:

a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;

the internal passage extending along a centerline within the monolithic body;

the internal passage having a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline;

the cross-sectional geometry of at least a first portion of the internal passage having a teardrop shape;

the monolithic body including an inner tubular section, an outer tubular section and a vane extending radially outward from the inner tubular section to the outer tubular section; and

the internal passage within the inner tubular section, the outer tubular section and the vane.

11. The component of claim 10 , wherein

the monolithic body further includes a hub and a strut extending radially inward from the inner tubular section to the hub; and

the internal passage is within the strut and the hub.

12. A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising:

a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;

the internal passage extending along a centerline within the monolithic body;

the internal passage having a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline;

a perimeter of the cross-sectional geometry for at least a first portion of the internal passage including a curved segment, a first straight segment and a second straight segment that meets the first straight segment at a corner;

the curved segment extending circumferentially between a first curved segment end and a second curved segment end;

the first straight segment extending from the corner towards the first curved segment end; and

the second straight segment extending from the corner towards the second curved segment end.

13. A method for forming a component for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

additively manufacturing a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;

wherein the internal passage extends along a centerline within the monolithic body;

wherein the internal passage has a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline; and

wherein the cross-sectional geometry of at least a first portion of the internal passage has a teardrop shape.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the internal passage is formed during the additive manufacturing without any support structure within the first portion of the internal passage.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein

the teardrop shape has a point and a center; and

the cross-sectional geometry of the first portion of the internal passage is oriented such that a line extending from the center to the point is perpendicular to a build plane for the additive manufacturing.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein

a perimeter of the teardrop shape comprises a curved segment, a first straight segment and a second straight segment that meets the first straight segment at a point;

the curved segment extends circumferentially between a first curved segment end and a second curved segment end;

the first straight segment extends from the point to the first curved segment end; and

the second straight segment extends from the point to the second curved segment end.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first straight segment is angularly offset from the second straight segment by an angle that is equal to or less than ninety degrees.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cross-sectional geometry of a second portion of the internal passage has a shape that is different than the teardrop shape.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least a first portion of the centerline follows a curved trajectory.