Originally Posted by
Concours77
lomapaseo. Always a reliable source of engine data, I’d be interested in a description of the actual path of number thirteen such that a ‘minds eye’ picture could occur?
As in, with a spiral track through space whilst attached to the rotor, how long could this radial trajectory sustain after root failure? The cowl looks “scrubbed clean” at the containment ring forward. Did the blade complete at least one revolution post release with energy enough to remove all the “crumple cowling”?
The only force that kept the blade continuing its circular path around the shaft was the 'inward' centripetal acceleration force while it was still attached.
Once the blade has failed at the root, that centripetal force has gone, there is no further acceleration force acting on the blade, and its trajectory immediately becomes linear, directly tangential at the moment of release.
Of course, the swirl of air, as well as possible impact by the other blades which are still rotating might well cause it to have some rotational path, and the momentary residual forward force on the blade as well as the 'pitot' force of incoming air will complicate the picture further.
In any case, my main point is that there is no inherent mechanical force or tendency for the liberated blade causing "this radial trajectory [to] sustain after root failure" as you seem to suggest.
pm