Advances in resin matrix composite fan blades for aircraft engines: A review

•The innovative resin matrix composite fan blade is the core cold end component of commercial high bypass ratio turbofan engine. In this paper, the integration of resin matrix composite fan blade manufacturing technology, mechanical design, and defect detection is proposed, and the future research focus of resin matrix composite fan blade is clarified.•Given the strict manufacturing requirements for resin matrix composite fan blades. The high-toughness material system incorporating micro-nano materials is selected. The precise zoning differential laminate and hybrid fiber laminate design, automated placement efficient path planning, and uniform variable thickness 3D woven perform are adopted. The curing molding process simulation and new machining methods of are studied. The process design and interface failure of cladding bonding are discussed.•Based on the in-situ damage evolution testing, geometric modeling technology and multi-scale analysis method, the mechanical property research of 3D woven resin matrix composite fan blade is gradually extended from material-level force to component-level and full-scale component-level, and the comprehensive characterization of mechanical behavior, failure process and damage mechanism is realized.•In view of the defects generated in the manufacturing and operation process of resin matrix composite fan blades, ultrasonic imaging detection method and active online monitoring system are developed, and the complementary connection of blade damage detection in offline/online state is formed. In the past few decades, the development of aircraft engines has targeted high bypass ratios and lightweight construction. The use of lighter and larger fan blades can facilitate the technical requirements of engine weight reduction with an increased bypass ratio, achieving improved engine operating efficiency and performance. The current literature has established that resin matrix composite fan blades (RMCFBs), as an alternative to traditional lightweight metal fan blades, exhibit high energy absorption efficiency and a stable response curve. This review assesses the latest research progress in the development and application of RMCFBs for aircraft engines. Firstly, the characteristics of different manufacturing processes are established with a classification of RMCFBs. Current application status of RMCFBs is discussed, evaluating the progress that has been made in specific systems. The pertinent experimental tests and numerical si