2) United States Patent Clark (54) APPARATUS FOR FOUR-POINT BEND. TESTING (7) Applicant: ROLL S-ROYCE PLC, London (GB) (72) Inveator: Bryne Clark, Bristol (GB) (93) Assignee: ROL |S-ROYCE ple, Derby (GB) (4) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer the tem of this pateat is extended of adjusted under 35 USC. 1S4¢b) by O days. (21) Appl. No. 14/631,280 (22) Filed: Feb, 25,2018 ws) Prior Publication Data $ 2015/0268144 A1 Sep. 24, 2015 G0) Fore Application Priority Data Mar. 21,2014 (GB) 1405073.6 Gb neck GoInv20 GUN v3 (2006.01) (2006.01) (2006.01), (GOIN 3/20 (2013.01); GOIN 3/32 (2013.01) GOIM S016 (2013.01); GOIN 220370023 (2013.01): GOIN 2208/0282 2013.01) Field of Classification Search CPC oe GOIN 3/20; GOIM SI0016; PIGC 35/06 usp 731852, 849 See application file for complete search history (58) 36) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 331885 A * 511962 Larson coin 338 T810 AMOI A * T1964 Baker oin'320 ‘US009354151B2 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: US 9,354,151 B2 May 31, 2016 S032 A * 21965 Slivan own 33s 450286 4 ¢ S198 Pomee oi 320 AOTISS A+ 71987 Fischer Goins 73850 (Continsed) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS be Ge ton29 012 aL 1/2005 A ios (Continved) (OTHER PUBLICATIONS Sep. 11, 2014 Seuch Repow issued in Bish Application No MOS073.6, Primary Examiner — Lisa Casto Tran M Tran oun PLC Assistant Examiner (4) Attornes, Agent, or Firm on Arig for testing an aerofil component in four-point bending, ‘whieh includes first and second fixtures movable relative 10 cach other to apply # eyelically varying load to opposing aerofoil surfaces of the component. The frst fxture has (Wo fist loading formations positioned to apply the load to one surface ofthe component, the formations being spaced apart inthe spanwise direction of the component. The second fx- ture has two second loading formations positioned to apply the load tothe other surfaeeof the component, which are aso spaced apart in the spanwise direction ofthe component and positioned reatve tothe is loading Formsaons to apply the Toad ina four-point bending arrangement. The second fixture ‘scontinuously adjustable so that its loading formations move relative to cachotherin the direction of application of te load tobalancethe load between the formations ring theeyclical load variation, ABSTRACT 13 Claims, 1 Drawing SheetUS 9,354,151 B2 Page 2 0) References led names m+ S200 cna mas US. PATENT DOCUMENTS abit mo 42007 Doak avin 4730408 A+ B88 Bash coyago 730280 BL 2007 LN cons Ne ; ae eee contd T8!08t a 2007 ate con it N80 ei 4981399 A+ 71090 Quin conta) 81664 m2 4200 ong cals nt a a 4986180 A UBBL Gaomio sons GORD SOT BD 620) U4 3 hae sitet ee ee con 1sm718 82 6200 Chima nn GOES Sis 886361 A * 10191 Robes Goimgoe: ——TS2LIST B2* 11200 Camas ni i S4M688 4 * $192 Hoon mesons GOIR IR ——149OBSE DF 42010 Cp ne 23188 A+ 8190 Bonde cones 7866465 2+ 12011 Ate Se 5,280,730 A * 1/1994 Peres: eae 7,974,803 B2* 7/2011 Logan GOIN 3545, Te 7 703104 5424834 A * 6198 cold con's So BI 22011 Sah colk tne seat 0 $2000 A * 41906 Bosh BERN asesoo mas 22018 Doser ant Moo Rano mae 33013 Rin ink vot 590728 A + 121998 Fin oon'tso Ss Sih) RAO BOY 62019 Kim con sont 908205 A+ $1909 chy cons thasoL Palo gezigne met 12014 Foe cannot 4967 B1* 112002 a outttlt a TSS) xasoane 02+ 102014 hase cone 6908129 82° VO) Sarso¥e nnn TNS ae ore ee 4101 82° 112003 ak oing ——S80.S85 BOP 102016 ang coun oN 2 ot eee a GSH oupisi7 nat 72015 finan caunsot ossi94 Bae Lam a ONDE Sr Bos AIS see 20M seme ee ane Tasca mar 82013 Nope ais sot Seeuz mas 12mm se NNR ag dba AI B018 Behe” GOIN RS sekx2 82" 122008 tk oath Nat mas 6.81618 62° 04 Hak ooistat PORPIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS mas 68n409 R2* 42005 Kavate costes Gp nate A+ Woe conse Mase gotta A "OIE osioe Be* 82005 Unik coonttae T3853 * cited by examinerUS 9,354,151 B2 May 31, 2016 U.S, PatentUS 9,354,151 B2 1 APPARATUS FOR FOUR-POINT BEND TESTING FIELD OF THE INVENTION “The present invention relates trig for esting an serail ‘component in foti-point bending. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gas turbine engine aerofoil components (ie. blades oF vanes) are traditionally assessed for high eycle fatigue (HCE) by carrying out fatigue tests on sample ei ‘entails clamping the vanrblade at mechanically exeting one of the component's modal fre- ‘quencies. The exciting foree ean be provided by a mechanical ‘Saker or by a pulsed or constant ait et, Large amplitudes of vibration are generally required inorder to prodice desied HCP fares ‘Onn matrix composite (OMC) erofoil components are ‘becoming more widely incorporated into gas turbine engines. However, conventional methods of exciting bladevane vibra- tion modes can be inadequate for such component. In par- ticular, OMCs tend to have high intrinsic damping and hence it can be difficult to excite their vibeation modes to high ‘enough amplitudes to cause HCP failure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It would be desirble to provide an altemative testing method, particularly for OMC aerofoil components. “Accordingly. ina first aspect, the present invention pro- vides a rig fr testing an serofoil component in four-point bending, the sig including first and second fixtures movable relative to each other to apply a cyclically varying load to ‘opposing aeroFoil surices of the aerooil component, the first fixture having two firs loading formations which are positioned to apply the load to one of the aerofoit surfaces of the component, the fist loading formations being spaced apart inthe spanwise direction ofthe com ponent, and the second fixtre having two second loading formations ‘which are positioned to apply the lod to the oer aeo- foil surface of the component, the second loading for. ‘mations also being spaced apart in the spanie direc- tioa of the component and being positioned relative to the first loading formations to apply the Toad in Tour point bending arangement; wherein the second fixture is continuously adjustable so ‘that its loading. formations move relative to each other in the direction of application of the load to balance the Joad betwen the loading formations during theeyelical Toad variation, In general, bladesivanes do not have syrimetric ross soo tions and hence they deform in an uneven way. Advanta- _gcousl the continous adjustability ofthe second fixturcean, ‘ensure that all the leading formations carry equal load throughout the loading cycle. The four-point bending ‘erangement ensures that the maxinnim beading stress inthe ‘component occurs in the centre section of the component away fom the fixtures. The fg also allows high loads to Be applied “The rig may have any one of, tothe extent that they are ‘compatible, any combination of the following optional fea ‘Conveniently, the scone loading formations may be sap= ported st opposite ends ofa set of first balancing beams ofthe 0 o 2 secon fist the oa being transmit the second ode dng formations top he et it baling beams which rock o produce the relative movement ofthe second lading formations inthe dreto of application of he lend Fach loading fomation may have two pas which make toadingcontet with that formation's aero sre at respective positions spaced apa nthe chordvisedieton bithecomponent Eachof throttling formations an thenbecontinovsly adjustable ota tsps move eave to cach other inthe diction of application ofthe lad atc that ending formations share othe Toad between the pods during the ejlical load variion, The ws of sch ra allows the fod to applied more unifomiy across the Ehovisedeson ofthe component. Conveniently, each of the three adjustable loading fomationscan havea respective Set of second haleing beams hich spor tha loadin formation’s pads st opposite ends thereof, the adjustable Jean formations share th oad being tans tots pat through the st of econ balancing Dems, whi rock {Sprodice the eave movement of th pods nthe decon Siappicaton ofthe oad. Theloang amy be imal So that they can Bre follow the slopes of the srfces on ‘whic they boar Typically, one ofthe fist and second fixtures may boo tower fxr andthe ther theft an secon fxn sy bean upper ites Tn use the component can then exten Substantially orizonaly Between the ites ith upward fiving and’ doynward-aing.aerofol surfaces, Such an arrangement allows the lower nar to soppon ie compe nen dng song up thea For example the ist fixe maybe the lower fixture and the socom ire may Bethe ‘pp intr Comenicnty the irst loading fomations may provide the cuter loading pont ofthe fouepoit bending srangeme: Sint te sscond lang fomatcas provide the inne baa. Pointe fourpoit bending arrangement. Tat heist Fading formations may be spaced a grater distance apart in the spanwise direction ofthe component than the second leading formations. Parcalarly when the fit Gntre s 0 Joe inte, sichanarrangementeanimprovehestppor of thecomponent doing sting up af the oe na scond aspect, th preset ivention provides the se of ther acoring tothe ist aspect foe trting (ee ati testing) an seofuil component ea stb engine bade or vang) in four bending by applying aeycbcally ‘arying load o opposing eof srfoes ofthe component Ta thin sapet the present isentonprovidesa metho of setng (fave esting) an eof component e023 Turbine eagine blade or vane) i fourpotnt Bening the tethod inci: Providing the ig according to the ist ppt Ihouning the component n ther 30 thet the fist and ‘cctod louding formations are posiined wo apply the Ioadto he opposing seo srfaces of the component arplving a eyeialy varying load the opposing sei Surices though the fist and second ong forma ions, where the second Fate continu ass +0 tht the scond long formations move relative fo ‘ch oor nthe diction of application ofthe fod 0 Balance the load bebween the loading formations ding the eylical lod variation ‘Themethod may haveanyeneto the exet that they are compatible, any combination of the following optional inthe example when cach loading formation as two pads cs make Iecing-contct wath that Fomation's ace $helace a respective positions spaced aa in he chordwiseUS 9,354,151 B2 3 direction ofthe component, the components mounted so that the pads of each loading fonnation make loading-contaet with that formation'sseeofol surface, and on application of the eyelically varying load, each adjustable looding formation ‘continuously adjusts so tht its pads move relative to each ‘ther inthe direction of application ofthe lad o balance that Jong formation’s shar of the load between the pads during the eyelical load variation ‘The aerofeil component may be an organi matrix com= posite component, such as a component formed of eabat {ibee enforced plastic andor las fibre reinforced plastic. “The method may include enclosing the rig in an exviron= rental chamber eg. for hot oF wet testing. Suc testing is «difficult o perform using conventional forced modal excita. tion approche. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by. way of example with reference to the aocompanying dras- ings in which TIG. 1 shows schematically a rig for vesting an verofoil ‘component in four-point bending. DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND FURTHER OPTIONAL FEATURES OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1, «rig for testing an sero ‘component in four-point bending is generally indicated a 10 tnd has a direction of application of load which is in the Vertical dtcction ofthe drawing, “The rig has ower (fst) fixtre 12 and an upper (second) ‘Oxture 14, Lower fixture is securely and rigidly mountable t© a immovable base, while dhe upper fixture Mf is movable up ‘and down ia the vertical direction, forexampleby a hydeaulic ‘or electrically driven jack or eross-head of @ universal testing machine. gas turbitie engine arofoilcomponent 16, suchas a fan blade, is located between the lower and upper fixtures, ‘supported on the lower fixture. The component extends b= stantially horizontally with ts opposing aerofil surfaces fac- ‘ng upwards and downwards. Guide posts 17 serve to locate ‘component in the cect postion om the lower Fixture ‘The component 16 lus a complex shape, which also ‘deforms ina complex and uneven manner under Loading. The rig is adapted to be able provide balanced loading during ‘our-point bending, especially during eyelical variation ofthe out-point bending Toa. ‘More partiulaey, the lower fixture has wo first loading formations 18, 20 which ace positioned to apply the load t0 the underside serofoil surface, the frst loading formations being spiced distance , apart in the spanwise direction of the component (ce. the direction of the componeat which spans working gas annulus of the engine). Similarly, the Upper fixture 14 has two second loading formations 22, 24 ‘shih are positioned to apply the load to the topside sero surface, the second loading formations being spaced a dis- tance S, apart inthe spanwise direction of the component. Distance 5, is greater than distance S,, with the first loading formations providing the outer loading points ofthe four point bending arrangement and the second loading forma- fions providing the inner loading points of the four-point bending arrangement. ach loading formation 18, 20, 22,24 has wo gimballed pads 26 which make looding-contact with that formation’s Beto surface at respective positions spaced a distance C ‘apart in the chordwise dieetion of the component, BY 4 balling te pads, they are beter able follow the slopes ofthe surlaces on which they bear during loading. “The upper fixture 14 has a set o fist balancing beams 28, ‘with the two second loading formations 22,24 being at oppo” site ends ofthe beams. The load is wansmitted from the ck ‘retoss-head through the first balancing beams to the second loading formations. The beams ean rock about central pivot points 30 so that the second loading formations move relative fo exch other in the diction of application of the load, thereby balancing the load between al the loading formations ‘during the cyclical load variation ‘One ofthe fis loading formations 18 has a simple support, £32 for its pads 26. In contest, the other fist loading. forma- tions 20, and the two second loading formations 22,24 have respoctve sets of second balancing beams 34 for their pads 26, More particularly, in each of these three loading forma ‘ions 20, 22,24, the respoctve pas are supported at opposite ends of the second balancing beams, which can rock about ‘ental pivot points 36 so thatthe pads move relative teach ‘other inthe direction of application ofthe lod, thereby bal- fncing that loading formation’s share ofthe load between the pads during the eyelical load variation. The share of the load ‘fhe Fist loading formation 18 having the simple support 32 is also thereby balanced between its pads 26 Tus the “ire structure” ofthe upper fixture 14 in which the load is transmitted to each loading pad 26 via two sets of Joad balancing beams 28, 34, in combination with the addi- ‘ional set of balaneing beams 34 of the fist loading forma tions 200 the lower fixture 12, balance the loa fet and right, and front and rear, thereby ensuring that al pads carry equal shares ofthe Inad throughout the loading eye, even as the component deflects asymmetrically and unevenly. In addi tion, the nse ofa four-point hending arrangement can ensire that the maximum bending tress occurs in the centre section ofthe component away from the loading formations 18, 20 22,24 ‘The rig ean thas be used to perform fatigue testing in a ‘manner that does not depend on exciting the componeat’s vibration modes, making the rig particularly suitable fr test jing OMC components. The rig salso compatible with fst set up times, which is desirable when testing many components In addition, the rig ean earry high applied loads, allowing ‘component fate failures to be achieved in resonable time scales. Further, the rig can be enclosed in an environmental chamber, eg. for hot or wet testing ‘While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments desribed above, many’ equiva lent medications and variations will be apparent to those stalled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the ‘exemplary embodiments othe invention set forth abave are ‘considered o be illusrative and not limiting. Various changes to the deseribod embodiments may be made without depar- ing from the spirit and seope ofthe invention, “The invention claimed is: 1. A rig for testing an aerofail component in four-point bending, the aerofoil component having a first aerofol sur- ‘ace and an oppositely-facing second serofoil surface, the rig including a first fixture and a second fixture movable relative to each other to apply a eyelcally varying load to the first erofol surface andthe secondaerofol surface ofthe aero ‘compontent, the frst fixture having two first oading mations whieh ‘re positioned to apply the load to the first arofoil surfce of the component, the two first loading forma- tions being spaced apart in # spanwise direction ofthe ‘component, andUS 9,354,151 B2 5 the second fixture having two second loading formations ‘which are positioned to apply the load to the second aerofol surface of the component, the two second Toad- ‘ng formations also being spaced apart inthe spanssise direction of the component, the spanwise spacing of the {so socond loading formations being less an the span= ‘wise spacing ofthe two frst loading formations, and the ‘sso second loading formations being positioned relative to the two first loading formations such that the first fixtures and the second fixtures apply the lood in a Fore point bending arrangement; wherein the second fixture is configured so thatthe oo ‘second loading. formations are movable relative to each ‘ther indirection of application ofthe Toad to balance the load between the two second loading formations during the eyetical load variation, 2. The rig according to claim 1, wherein the two second loading formations are supported at opposite ends ofa set of first balancing beams ofthe second fixture, the load being transmitted to the second loading formations through the set 2 ‘of first balancing beams, which rock to produce the relative ‘movement of theo second loading formations in the diree- tion of application ofthe lad 3. The rig according to claim 1, wherein: ‘each foding, formation has two pads which make lodin ‘contact With tht formation's aerofil surface at respec: tive postions spaced apart in the chondwvise direction of the component; and cach of three the loading formations is configured so that its pads move relative fo each other in the direction of application of the load to balance that loading forma- tion's share of the load between the pads during the cyclical load variation, 4. The rig acconding to claim 3, wherein each of said three loading formations has «respective set of second balancing beams which support tht loading formation’ pads at oppo- site ends thoroof, each of sid thre loading formations share ‘of the lead being transmitted to its pads through the set of second balancing beams, which mck to price the relative ‘movement ofthe pads in the direction of application of the oad. '. The rig according to claim 3, wherein the pads of the loading formations are gimbal. 6, The rig according to claim 1, wherein, fone ofthe first fixture and the second fixture isa lower fixture, and the other ofthe first fixture and the second. fixture isan upper fixture, {in use, the component extends substantially horizontally ‘hetween the lower fixture and the upper fixture with ‘upward-facing and downwardfacing aerofoil succes 6 7. The rig according to claim 6, wherein the frst fixture is the lower fisture and the second fixture isthe upper fixture, 8. The rig according to claim 1, wherein the fist loading formations provide outer loading points of the four-point bending arrangement and the second loading formations pro- vide inne loading points ofthe four-point bending armnge- ° 9. A method of testing an aeofoil component in four-point bending, the method including: providing the rig according to claim 1 ‘mounting the component in the rg so that the fis loading formations and the second loading formations are pos tioned to apply the load to the oppositely-facing eof surfaces ofthe component, applying a eyclically varying load wo the oppositely-facing ‘2erofoil surfaces through the first loating formations ‘and second loading formations, whereby the second fix- ‘ure continuously adjusts so thatthe second loading, formations move relative to eachother in the direction of application ofthe loa to balance the oad between the loading formations during the eylical load variation, 10, The method of testing an aerofil component according {0 claim 9, wherein: eaet loading formation has two pads configured to make loading-contact with that foemation's aecofoil surface a respective positions spaced apart in the ‘hordwisediretion the component cach of three ofthe frst and second leading formations is configured so that it pads ‘move relative o each other in the direction of application of the load to balance that loading formation’s share of load ‘between the pads during the eylical load variation; the com- ponent is mount so thatthe pas of each loading formation ‘make loadcontaet with tha formation’s aro surface; and ‘on application of the cyclical varying load, each of said three ofthe ist and second loading formations continuously adjust ‘so that it pads move relative to each other inthe direction of ‘application of the load to balance that loading formations share ofthe Toad between the pads during the eyelical load variation, 11, Themethod of testing an aerofoil component according toelsim 9, wherein the testis fatigue tes. 12. The method of esting an aerofol component according to claim 9, wherein the aerofoil component is an organic ‘mateix composite component. 13, The rig of claim 1, wherein the (wo second loading {Formations ate disposed between the wo first leading forma tions in the spanwise direction ofthe component.