Siheyuan: Taking over the steel mill

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, all fan blades of turbofan engines are designed with flange structures. The flanges of each blade are closely connected to each other, forming an annular hoop that can strengthen the blade. This not only improves the overall rigidity of the blade, but also enhances the ability to resist impact from external objects, and increases the natural frequency of the blade, reducing the risk of vibration.

However, this design also brings many problems, including the extremely high machining precision required for individual blades and the increased centrifugal stress on the blade root. In order to deal with these problems, many large overseas engine companies have found a solution: remove the flanges on the blades and widen them to form the so-called wide-chord blades.

But simply widening the blades is not enough. Although the widened blades are more stable and can withstand greater impact forces, due to their increased weight, the roots may not be able to withstand the load, and the disk that fixes the blades also needs to be designed to be thick and heavy enough, which is not suitable for large aircraft engines.

Based on this, an overseas company developed a new fan blade design and production method - a flangeless wide-chord blade with a cavity sandwich structure. "This technology was only recently developed and has been restricted by the international market and blocked from us. How did we get this technology?" Where did the factory director get the drawings?

"With this design plan, we can break through international restrictions and bring significant progress to aerospace engineering!" Some technical backbones gathered around the drawings, so excited that they were almost in tears.

The group of ordinary workers around were unaware of this innovative technology. They only saw that the technical experts seemed to have fallen into a state of madness again.

"Those who delve into technology are really crazy." One of the workers shook his head helplessly while packing up his tools. But the engineers ignored the gossip.

"Is our steel processing plant actually part of **'s confidential project?" The technical backbone who first noticed the blade structure stood up and asked excitedly. His name is Jiang Jiefang, and he used to work in ** factory. But he was stubborn and refused to obey orders, so he was regarded as a troublemaker and was the first to be fired when the factory was reducing its staff.

“That does make sense. Maybe this place is a defense factory disguised as a civilian enterprise,” Yang Guoqing seconded.

He was older and had retired, but was hired again because of his experience.

After the two pointed it out, everyone present felt that this guess had a certain degree of credibility.

"It is very likely that the factory director has the blueprints of these cutting-edge technologies because a group of anonymous heroes working silently in foreign countries helped to send them back to us."

In that era, many people were willing to take risks and go undercover abroad in exchange for advanced scientific and technological knowledge. The media often reported related stories. This idea is not so absurd. Jiang Jiefang deeply agrees with this.

"Perhaps, these drawings are the information they brought back from the Eagle Sauce through undercover means." The "Eagle Sauce" here refers to **.

"I have only heard of it but never seen it. Today I finally saw the actual design drawing with my own eyes. I didn't expect that this wide-chord, shoulder-free hollow sandwich blade structure actually exists."

"Yes, I have carefully checked the manufacturing process, and our factory can definitely do it."

“Whoever designed this structure was really talented, using a honeycomb sandwich material in the middle to increase rigidity and reduce weight.”

"As long as this technology is applied to our country's space shuttle, those foreigners will never be able to bully us again!" Everyone became more and more excited.

"I remember when we were designing the engine, we were always struggling with the blade problem, hoping to improve the engine's efficiency," an engineer recalled. "Now with this design drawing, we will definitely be able to fully grasp its essence."

Jiang Jiefang waved his arms, full of enthusiasm: "Although we have only understood one blade structure in the past period of time, the road ahead is still long and difficult."

Facing the design drawings in his hands, Yang Guoqing looked at them as if they were treasures in his heart: "We must never give up! We must fully understand this design drawing and produce it!" Everyone immediately became motivated.

If these people, who are currently one of the top technical experts in the city, cannot solve the mystery of the blueprint, no one else will be able to complete it. No matter how many obstacles and difficulties they encounter, they can only move forward.

"Don't worry, we will solve it step by step. I don't believe that a small engine can stump us."

"Since we have gone through the Long March, this engine should be no problem for us!"

The tired mood of several technical elites was rekindled after breaking through a key component. It has been more than two weeks since the blueprint was obtained, but there is still limited progress.

The design of aircraft engines is quite difficult. Even as experts in the industry, they faced numerous challenges. Just a blade structure took them a whole week.

The markings on the design drawings are detailed and accurate, but there is no explanation on what materials and alloy proportions to use to ensure that they can withstand the huge stress generated by high-speed rotation. To ensure that there are no mistakes, every step needs to be rigorously verified.

In this workshop specially allocated to the technical team, silence has returned again, with only the rustling sound of papers and pens entangled echoing in the air.

"I wonder if our factory director also has an unknown identity?" A younger engineer couldn't help but look up and ask, and everyone present felt the same way.

Suchen demonstrated this disruptive scientific and technological achievement so easily that people could not help but be interested in the story behind it. With just the blade design, this revolutionary technology has surpassed some other countries and has not yet reached the level of large-scale production.

However, Su Chen had already brought the technical drawings to them.

This makes people wonder how unusual Su Chen's identity is. "Go away, are you trying to tip off someone?"

"Perhaps Director Su's identity is fake. He may be our undercover agent, but you'd better not ask too many questions."

Yang Guoqing cleared his throat, and his cloudy eyes became unusually sharp as he scanned everyone present. "Don't even think about leaking secrets everywhere. We need to supervise each other, and if we find anyone leaking secrets, we need to find that person!" After he finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement.

At this point, Su Chen’s true identity is no longer important. The key is that this blueprint must not be leaked...

"I, Jiang Jiefang, will set an example and promise not to disclose these designs to anyone, even to my family members."

"Please supervise me. If you find that I am leaking secrets, please feel free to expose me!"

After someone took the lead, others followed suit and made promises.

After everyone gave their guarantees, the technical backbones who mastered the secret became more motivated and devoted themselves to the research and development work.

Thinking that his design drawings had not yet come to fruition, Su Chen felt it necessary to come to the institute in person to check the progress. The institute's location had been closely guarded by the security department to prevent unauthorized personnel from breaking in.

Although Su Chen didn't mind his designs and technologies being seen by others, he also didn't want these advanced technologies to easily fall into the hands of others for profit.

Therefore, he immediately took measures to seal off the institute and prevent outsiders from entering.

When he walked to the door of the institute, he found that the atmosphere was unusually lively. If it were another factory, the workers would have noticed it long ago. But the technical backbones here were completely unaware.

These people seemed to have become scientists in old movies, with dishevelled hair and dirty faces, busy writing characters, symbols that only they could understand. Especially Jiang Jiefang, he used a pen to quickly calculate formulas while constantly mumbling words that others could not understand. Su Chen was confused after just listening for a while.

He really couldn't understand why the technical backbones who seemed ordinary before seemed to be full of infinite energy at this moment.

Looking at the busy and chaotic scene, Su Chen couldn't help but feel a little headache. He pulled Yang Guoqing and asked, "How far has the research on the design drawings progressed?"

Yang Guoqing wanted to blame him, but when he looked up and saw that it was Su Chen, he immediately showed admiration, "We have now overcome two technical difficulties, and the rest of the progress is in full swing, and it will be completed soon."

"I'm sorry, Director. This design is too complicated. We spent too much time studying it."

Su Chen waved his hand to indicate that there was no need to worry.

"It does take quite a while to analyze this blueprint. Thank you for your hard work."

The conversation between Su Chen and Yang Guoqing finally interrupted the other technicians' immersion in their research. They all looked at Su Chen with respect, which made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Su Chen was very confused and didn't understand why the preparatory researchers looked at him in such a strange way. Fortunately, apart from the unusual look in their eyes, the technical experts did not do anything excessive to him.

At this time, Jiang Jiefang, who was temporarily taking over the role of research leader in accordance with Su Chen's instructions, also came forward to report on the progress of the work.

"Today we have finally mastered the structure of wide-chord, shoulder-free hollow sandwich blades. Next we will conduct further research..."

He was interrupted by Su Chen before he could finish.

"I don't quite understand the complicated name of the blade you mentioned. There's no need to use such advanced professional language. Just tell us how much progress we have made so far and how many days it will take to completely analyze the blueprint."

Obviously, Su Chen knew nothing about the technical terms of their profession. He had not studied the principles of engines. He was just a passenger who had sat in planes, not an expert in manufacturing them.

Jiang Jiefang did not seem disappointed. After a little thought, he changed his narrative method so that Su Chen could understand more easily.

“At present, our research results have reached 70% of the overall level, and the remaining 30% are some more difficult parts. However, according to our work efficiency, we can complete the mastery of all the information of the design sketch in about a week.”

He was not exaggerating. After all, the technologies of most engines are interoperable. It is only some minor changes and innovative elements in the new design that require them to spend some extra effort.

After listening to Jiang Jiefang's report, Su Chen was very excited. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "You have done a great job, Comrade Jiang Jiefang! Such research progress is gratifying. Please keep it up. I am waiting for your victory news!"

Faced with Su Chen's words of praise, Jiang Jiefang's face flushed and his heart was extremely excited - in his mind, Su Chen was a person who spared no effort to promote the development of the country's aerospace industry, and even went so far as to become an undercover agent for this purpose.

Then he said firmly: "I will complete the task, Director!"

Seeing Su Chen praising Jiang Jiefang in this situation, the other experts couldn't help but feel envious.

Su Chen also immediately caught this point, and turned to praise everyone:

"Everyone is great. When you succeed in ** this design sketch, I will give you a bonus as an encouragement."

Although this praise was simple, the technicians on site were deeply inspired.

What they value more than the bonus is the recognition from their superiors.