Systems and methods for treating an engine flange

Abstract

A method may comprise providing an M-flange of a gas turbine engine, wherein the M-flange may comprise a bolt hole therethrough defined by a bolt hole circumference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the M-flange; heating a mandrel; inserting the heated mandrel into the bolt hole such that an outer edge of the heated mandrel contacts the bolt hole circumference; and plastically deforming the bolt hole circumference to strengthen the bolt hole circumference in response to the applying the heated mandrel, producing a plastically deformed bolt hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a flange of a gas turbine engine, wherein the flange comprises a bolt hole therethrough defined by a bolt hole circumference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the flange,
 wherein the bolt hole circumference comprises a radially outward area proximate the outer diameter and a radially inward area proximate the inner diameter; 
   heating a plurality of shot;   applying the heated plurality of shot to the bolt hole circumference; and   plastically deforming the bolt hole circumference to strengthen the bolt hole circumference in response to the applying the heated plurality of shot, producing a plastically deformed bolt hole.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shot comprises a plurality of metal beads. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the heated shot to the bolt hole circumference comprises applying the heated shot only to the radially inward area of the bolt hole circumference. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding an original bolt hole diameter defined by the bolt hole circumference to a deformed bolt hole diameter, wherein the deformed bolt hole diameter is about 0.010 inch greater than the original bolt hole diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the flange comprises removing the flange from the gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising replacing the flange comprising the plastically deformed bolt hole onto the gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the flange comprises providing the flange comprising a scallop disposed on the outer diameter of the flange. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 providing a flange of a gas turbine engine, wherein the flange comprises a bolt hole therethrough defined by a bolt hole circumference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the flange,
 wherein the bolt hole circumference comprises a radially outward area proximate the outer diameter and a radially inward area proximate the inner diameter; 
   heating a mandrel;   inserting the heated mandrel into the bolt hole such that an outer edge of the heated mandrel contacts the bolt hole circumference; and   plastically deforming the bolt hole circumference to strengthen the bolt hole circumference in response to the applying the heated mandrel, producing a plastically deformed bolt hole.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mandrel comprises a roller coupled to the outer edge, and the roller contacts the bolt hole circumference. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mandrel comprises a rotating ball coupled to the outer edge, and the rotating ball contacts the bolt hole circumference. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising expanding an original bolt hole diameter defined by the bolt hole circumference to a deformed bolt hole diameter, wherein the deformed bolt hole diameter is about 0.030 inch greater than the original bolt hole diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the outer edge is comprised on an enlarged end of the mandrel, wherein the enlarged end is circumferentially larger than the bolt hole circumference. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing a split sleeve into the bolt hole, wherein the inserting the mandrel comprises inserting the mandrel into the split sleeve in the bolt hole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plastically deforming comprises forcing the enlarged end of the mandrel into the split sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising expanding an original bolt hole diameter defined by the bolt hole circumference to a deformed bolt hole diameter, wherein the deformed bolt hole diameter is between 0.050 inch and 0.10 inch greater than the original bolt hole diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the providing the flange comprises removing the flange from a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising replacing the flange comprising the plastically deformed bolt hole onto the gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the providing the flange comprises providing the flange comprising a scallop disposed in the outer diameter of the flange. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 providing a flange of a gas turbine engine, wherein the flange comprises a bolt hole therethrough defined by a bolt hole circumference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the flange,
 wherein the bolt hole circumference comprises a radially outward area proximate the outer diameter and a radially inward area proximate the inner diameter; 
   inserting an explosive material into the bolt hole;   igniting the explosive material such that a resulting explosion applies a force on the bolt hole circumference; and   plastically deforming the bolt hole circumference to strengthen the bolt hole circumference in response to the igniting the explosive material, producing a plastically deformed bolt hole.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the explosive material is comprised in a cartridge comprised of a metal material.