Engine Testing for the Demonstration of a 3D-Woven Based Ceramic Matrix Composite Turbine Vane Design Concept

In this paper, the authors present a solid vane concept which uses 3D woven fabric based SiC/SiC CMC and the result of engine testing which was conducted to demonstrate this concept. The authors devised a design concept, in which a vane is made from a folded woven, for the uncooled turbine vanes of the aircraft engines. The advantage of this concept is that there is no structural weak point because a whole vane including outer / inner platform consists of one continuous woven. In order to demonstrate the applicability of this concept to the actual engine parts, CMC turbine vanes were tested with IHI-IM270 that is a small industrial gas turbine engine. After 862 hour testing, there was no defect such as cracks, wear, and deformation.