Patent ID: 8662834

Claim:
A method for reducing tip rub loads in an airfoil comprising the steps of: selecting a location of contact between the airfoil and a static structure to include at least part of a tip portion of the airfoil; selecting a location on the airfoil for incorporating a tip-cutter, the location including a leading edge of the airfoil that is separated from a trailing edge of the airfoil in a chord-wise direction of the airfoil; selecting a tip-cutter profile for the tip-cutter; and incorporating the tip-cutter on the selected location on the airfoil such that the tip-cutter profile comprises an arcuate portion on the leading edge and a flat portion on the leading edge between the arcuate portion and the tip portion of the airfoil, the arcuate portion defining a recess in the leading edge that extends in the chord-wise direction toward the trailing edge of the airfoil, the flat portion defining a cutter-angle with the leading edge that extends in the chord-wise direction toward the trailing edge of the airfoil, wherein the tip-cutter is capable of removing a portion of the static structure during a tip rub such that tip rub loads are facilitated to be reduced.