Friction stir welded hollow airfoils and method therefor

摘要

A hollow component for gas turbine engine, for example an outlet guide vane, is assembled from a body (26) having at recessed pocket (30) formed therein, and an aerodynamic cover (28) bonded over the pocket (30). Both the cover (28) and the body (30) are constructed from materials which are not readily fusion weldable. The cover (28) is attached to the body (26) by a solid state bonding process, for example friction stir welding. The hollow component may also be built up from multiple individual components which are bonded to each other by a solid state bonding process such as friction stir welding.