Protective panel and frame therefor

1. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plate;

a frame attached to the plate; and

a panel supported by the frame, wherein the panel is spaced-apart from the plate by the frame such that the panel and the plate are not directly connected;

wherein the panel includes a first radially inner flange and a second radially inner flange, and a first radially outer flange and a second radially outer flange spaced-apart from the first radially inner flange and the second radially inner flange by a first slot and a second slot;

wherein the frame includes a first grip engaging the first radially outer flange of the panel, and a second grip engaging the second radially outer flange of the panel; and

wherein the first grip and second grip engage both a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface of a respective one of the first radially outer flange and the second radially outer flange.

2. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel is formed of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material.

3. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first grip and the second grip are semicircular and include a first projection engaging radially outer surface and a second projection engaging a radially inner surface of a respective one of the first radially outer flange and the second radially outer flange, the first and second projections connected by a respective semicircular portion extending around a respective one of the first radially outer flange and the second radially outer flange.

4. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the frame includes an outer frame and an inner frame providing the first grip and the second grip, the outer frame engaging a radially inner surface of the first radially outer flange and a radially inner surface of the second radially outer flange, the inner frame engaging a radially outer surface of the first radially outer flange and a radially outer surface of the second radially outer flange.

5. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , including a plurality of shims provided between the first radially outer flange and the second radially outer flange and the first grip and the second grip such that the first and second grips do not directly contact the first and second radially outer flanges.

6. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 5 , wherein the plurality of shims each include bends at circumferential ends thereof to prevent movement of the shims relative to the panel.

7. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 5 , wherein the plurality of shims each include grooves extending circumferentially along the respective shim, each of the grooves receiving projections of an associated one of the first grip and the second grip.

8. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate is a portion of one of a combustor liner and an exhaust nozzle.

9. A panel for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a radially outer flange; and

a radially inner flange protruding axially beyond the radially outer flange;

a slot formed between the radially inner flange and the radially outer flange;

wherein the panel is formed of a ceramic matric composite (CMC) material; and

wherein the CMC material includes a plurality of axial fibers, a length of the axial fibers arranged to follow a contour of the slot.

10. The panel as recited in claim 9 , wherein the CMC material includes a plurality of circumferential fibers interleaved with the plurality of axial fibers.

11. A method of mounting a panel to a plate, comprising:

attaching a frame to the plate; and

sliding the panel into an interference fit with the frame;

wherein the panel is spaced-apart from the plate by the frame such that the panel and the plate are not directly connected;

wherein the panel includes first radially inner flange and a second radially inner flange, and a first radially outer flange and a second radially outer flange spaced-apart from the first radially inner flange and the second radially inner flange by a first slot and a second slot;

wherein the frame includes a first grip engaging the first radially outer flange of the panel, and a second grip engaging the second radially outer flange of the panel; and

wherein the first grip and second grip engage both a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface of a respective one of the first radially outer flange and the second radially outer flange.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein attaching the frame to the plate includes attaching an inner frame and an outer frame to the plate.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein attaching the frame to the plate occurs before the panel is slid into an interference fit with the frame.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 , including sliding a plurality of shims into an interference fit with the frame, the shims provided between the frame and the panel.