Rtx Corporation

Benjamin Bedard

Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany

Krzysztof Barnat

Randy P Salva

Andrzej Ernest Kuczek

Michael A Klecka

A system for deep rolling a fan blade including a shaft assembly disposed along a first axis; a hub connected to a distal end of the shaft assembly, the hub having an upper hub portion and a lower hub portion extending along a second axis, the second axis forming an angle relative to a first axis; a roller disk joined to the lower portion of the hub, the roller disk configured to contact a fan blade; a fixture supporting the fan blade; the fixture comprising a body supporting a pivot clamp attached to the body with a pivot; a support attached to the body, the support is configured to engage an airfoil portion of the fan blade; a receiver formed in the body for supporting a root of the fan blade; and a shoulder attached to the body configured to support a platform portion of the fan blade.

Surface treatment system design for high fatigue life hollow fan blades

A mechanical surface treatment method for a workpiece includes using a multi-axis powered machine to actuate a deep rolling tool having a roller relative to the workpiece. The actuating includes applying the roller against a workpiece surface with a normal force sufficient to plastically deform the workpiece and translating the roller relative to the workpiece surface. The method includes concurrently applying an electrical current to the workpiece surface in a manner that produces an electroplastic effect at the workpiece surface and a near surface region. The electroplastic effect and the plastic deformation produce a refinement in a grain structure at the workpiece surface and near surface region and an increase in dislocation sources and tangles within the grain structure.

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Manchester, CT, United States of America

Benjamin Bedard