Patent ID: 7942639

Claim:
A method for mechanically coupling at least one of a composite or a polymeric material to a radial airfoil, said method comprising: forming at least one window in an airfoil portion of the radial airfoil, such that the window extends through the airfoil, wherein the window includes a sidewall having an inclined surface that extends through the airfoil portion and that is oriented to facilitate retaining the at least one of a composite or a polymeric material therein; forming a dovetail-shaped surface of the sidewall that defines the at least one window, wherein the dovetail-shaped surface facilitates transferring a force imparted on the at least one of a composite or a polymeric material to the radial airfoil during a centrifugal loading of the radial airfoil, wherein the dovetail-shaped edges include at least one of the plurality of inclined surface sidewalls; and filling the window with the at least one of a composite or a polymeric material configured to tolerate relatively high temperatures generated on the airfoil by windage conditions and having a sufficient stiffness to facilitate adherence within the at least one window, wherein windage conditions comprises operation during low flow, relatively high speed rotation conditions.