ENGINEERED CERAMIC COMPONENTS FOR THE LEADING EDGE OF A HELICOPTER ROTOR BLADE

摘要

An engineered ceramic component (10) for the leading edge of a rotor blade provides enhanced erosion protection therefor. In one embodiment, the engineered ceramic component (10) includes a strain isolator member (19), an aerodynamic ceramic member (14), a first adhesive bond layer (16), and a second adhesive bond layer (18). The strain isolator member (19), which is operative to minimize strain transfer between the rotor blade infrastructure and the aerodynamic ceramic member (14), is configured so that inner mold line surface thereof is complementary to outer mold line surface of the rotor blade infrastructure. The aerodynamic ceramic member (14), which is operative to provide enhanced erosion protection for the respective leading edge of the rotor blade, is configured so that the outer mold line surface thereof defines the aerodynamic configuration of the respective leading edge and the inner mold line surface is complementary to the outer mold line surface of the strain isolator member (19). The aerodynamic ceramic member (14) is fabricated from an engineered ceramic material, which are defined in the present context as ceramic materials having a hardness greater than 1200kg/mm2 and an average flexural strength equal to or greater than 40ksi. The first adhesive bond layer (16) is operative to bond the strain isolator (19) member to the rotor blade infrastructure (140) and the second adhesive bond layer (18) is operative to bond the aerodynamic ceramic member (14) to the strain isolator member (19). In another embodiment, the engineered ceramic member (10) includes the aerodynamic ceramic member (14) described hereinabove and a thick adhesive layer. The thick adhesive layer is operative to minimize strain transfer between the rotor blade infrastructure and the aerodynamic ceramic member and to bond the aerodynamic ceramic member in combination with the rotor blade infrastructure.