Insertion of ceramic members for gas path endwall contouring
An endwall assembly for an airfoil of a gas turbine engine includes a first fiber layer, a second fiber layer forming a gas path surface, and a contoured insert disposed between the first and second fiber layers, wherein the second fiber layer conforms to a contoured surface of the contoured insert such that the contoured surface defines a geometry of the gas path surface.
1. An endwall assembly for an airfoil of a gas turbine engine, the endwall assembly comprising:
a first fiber layer;
a second fiber layer forming a gas path surface; and
a first contoured insert and a second contoured insert, the first and second contoured inserts disposed between the first and second fiber layers, wherein the second fiber layer conforms to a contoured surface of the first contoured insert and the second contoured insert such that the contoured surface defines a geometry of the gas path surface;
wherein the contoured surface of each of the first and second contoured inserts comprises a protrusion and/or a depression; and
wherein the first contoured insert is disposed adjacent to the second contoured insert and comprises a first mating edge having a geometry configured to mate with a corresponding second mating edge of the second contoured insert.
2. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the contoured insert comprises a fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite.
3. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first contoured insert comprises a fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite.
4. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the contoured surface comprises:
a nominal surface;
a protrusion extending outward from the nominal surface; and
a depression extending inward from the nominal surface.
5. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first contoured insert comprises a locating feature corresponding to a contour or position of the airfoil.
6. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first contoured insert comprises a protrusion and the second contoured insert comprises a depression.
7. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first contoured insert comprises a plurality of fiber layers provided in a stacked arrangement and at least partially densified with a ceramic matrix.
8. The endwall assembly of claim 7 , wherein each fiber layer of the plurality of fiber layers comprises one or more fiber plies.
9. The endwall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the contoured insert is a monolithic ceramic body.