Maintenance and Modifications
Engine OEM mulls composite fan blades
UK-based Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace have established a joint venture to study the use of composite materials in fan blades.

UK-based Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace have established a joint venture to study the use of composite materials in fan blades. The engine manufacturer and the aerostructure specialist are investing, on a 51-49 basis, £11 million ($22 million) in
a research and development program. For Rolls-Royce, this could signal a major shift from a well established design choice.

The joint venture stems from an ongoing research program called Vital and partly funded by the European Union. The goal of the program was to produce high-bypass-ratio engines “that could deliver a significant reduction in both noise and fuel burn.” Therefore, new technologies that will eliminate weight penalties incurred by the increase in bypass ratio are needed, a Rolls-Royce spokesman told AIN. Research on composite fan blades began under Vital.

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