Patent ID: 8475132

Claim:
A turbine blade assembly, comprising: a turbine blade, said turbine blade including a root portion and an airfoil, said airfoil extending radially from said root portion to an airfoil tip; a tip cover coupled to said airfoil at said airfoil tip, said tip cover defining an opening; a composite rod extending within said turbine blade, said composite rod including a first end configured to engage said tip cover at said opening and a second end coupled to said root portion, said second end being configured to be inserted radially into said turbine blade through said opening; and a first clamp plate and a second clamp plate configured to be received within a channel defined through said root portion for coupling said second end of said composite rod to said root portion, wherein a coefficient of thermal expansion of said composite rod is less than or equal to a coefficient of thermal expansion of said airfoil.