A new high quality turbine system using monolithic silicon-nitride ceramic is under development. In this study particle impact tests of the silicon-nitride have been tried at room and elevated temperatures with and without tensile load, which simulates centrifugal force of blade rotation. In the experiment 1 mm diameter particle is impacted at velocities up to 900 m s−1. In this paper, critical velocities for bending fracture and Hertzian cracks are examined. Moreover, strength degradation at elevated temperature and spall fracture of the blade are discussed. The main results are: 1) The bending fracture mode critical impact velocity for soft particles is higher than that for hard particles. 2)The impact parameter ϕ for initiation of Hertzian cracks ranges 1.08×10−5 – 1.56×10−5 for the materials tested. 3)Strength degradation at elevated temperature was clearly observed. 4) In the impact tests on blades spall fracture, which was caused by interaction of stress waves, appeared.
Experiment on Foreign Object Damage of Gas Turbine-Grade Silicon Nitride Ceramic
