Variable shape rotor blade

摘要

A rotor blade (100) comprising a core blade section (102); and a trailing edge section (104), the trailing edge section being attached to the core blade section along a join interface (106). The trailing edge section (104) comprises a shape memory material (138) which is actuable so as to cause selective deformation of the trailing edge section between a first condition in which a trailing edge (112) of the trailing edge section follows a substantially smooth profile and a second condition in which the trailing edge is perturbed (110). The direction of the perturbation may be oblique or perpendicular to the direction of flow over the blade in use. The rotor blade may be a fan or propeller for a gas turbine engine.