Residual Life Assessment of a Critical Component of a Gas Turbine: Achievements and Challenges

Author(s):  
Wieslaw Beres ◽  
Zhong Zhang ◽  
David Dudzinski ◽  
W. R. Chen ◽  
X. J. Wu

The residual life assessment of a turbine spacer from a gas turbine engine is presented. The spacer has been identified as one of the safety critical components of the engine, therefore the useful life of this component significantly affects economic operation of the fleet. Numerical analyses of fatigue crack propagation at one critical location of the spacer were performed using both three dimensional (3D) finite element based method and the weight function method. These results combined with the material data allowed for basic assessment of the damage tolerance of this component. Experimental validation of the spacer life was performed in a spin rig facility. During this validation, two sets of spacers were tested and the number of cycles to appearance of a detectable crack was recorded. Moreover, a fractographic study was conducted on the fracture surfaces of two spin rig tested spacers using scanning electronic microscopy techniques. It was found that crack nucleation occurred at multiple sites and crack propagation occurred by a mixed mode of striation formation and faceted fracture. Therefore it was concluded that the mixed mode interaction should be considered in predicting the fatigue life of the spacer. Finally, the paper describes the challenges and pitfalls encountered during preparation and execution of the analyses and tests, including availability of engine and operational data and also uncertainties in interpretation of the results.

Author(s):  
Yasushi Hayasaka ◽  
Nobuhiro Isobe ◽  
Shigeo Sakurai ◽  
Kazuhiko Kumata

Recently the number of gas-turbine-powered combined-cycle plants has been increasing because of their efficiency and environmental compatibility. Gas turbine operating conditions are severe, especially for hot-gas-path components. To improve the reliability of such components and to extend their life, we have developed a life management system based on a residual-life-assessment method. The system makes possible integrated residual-life-assessment based on numerical analyses, material destructive-tests, nondestructive inspections, statistical analyses of field machine data, and the use of a database. To develop the system, the primary damage mechanism for each component is clarified and material degradation is evaluated. For nozzles, the system describes a method of predicting the maximum surface crack growth. The validity of the methods is verified by assessment of the inspection data. This paper also describes optimization of operating cost and RAM (reliability, availability and maintainability).


Author(s):  
M I Wood

Gas turbine hot section parts are high-value components which have finite lives. Their durability has an important role in controlling maintenance intervals and the associated costs. This paper reviews the sources of degradation in some components, the technology available to quantify the damage, and publicly available assessment procedures which can be used for component life assessment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benny George ◽  
Nagalingam Muthuveerappan

AbstractTemperature probes of different designs were widely used in aero gas turbine engines for measurement of air and gas temperatures at various locations starting from inlet of fan to exhaust gas from the nozzle. Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) downstream of low pressure turbine is one of the key parameters in performance evaluation and digital engine control. The paper presents a holistic approach towards life assessment of a high temperature probe housing thermocouple sensors designed to measure EGT in an aero gas turbine engine. Stress and vibration analysis were carried out from mechanical integrity point of view and the same was evaluated in rig and on the engine. Application of 500 g load concept to clear the probe design was evolved. The design showed strength margin of more than 20% in terms of stress and vibratory loads. Coffin Manson criteria, Larsen Miller Parameter (LMP) were used to assess the Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) and creep life while Goodman criteria was used to assess High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) margin. LCF and HCF are fatigue related damage from high frequency vibrations of engine components and from ground-air-ground engine cycles (zero-max-zero) respectively and both are of critical importance for ensuring structural integrity of engine components. The life estimation showed LCF life of more than 4000 mission reference cycles, infinite HCF life and well above 2000 h of creep life. This work had become an integral part of the health monitoring, performance evaluation as well as control system of the aero gas turbine engine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benny George ◽  
Nagalingam Muthuveerappan

Abstract Temperature probes of different designs were widely used in aero gas turbine engines for measurement of air and gas temperatures at various locations starting from inlet of fan to exhaust gas from the nozzle. Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) downstream of low pressure turbine is one of the key parameters in performance evaluation and digital engine control. The paper presents a holistic approach towards life assessment of a high temperature probe housing thermocouple sensors designed to measure EGT in an aero gas turbine engine. Stress and vibration analysis were carried out from mechanical integrity point of view and the same was evaluated in rig and on the engine. Application of 500 g load concept to clear the probe design was evolved. The design showed strength margin of more than 20% in terms of stress and vibratory loads. Coffin Manson criteria, Larsen Miller Parameter (LMP) were used to assess the Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) and creep life while Goodman criteria was used to assess High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) margin. LCF and HCF are fatigue related damage from high frequency vibrations of engine components and from ground-air-ground engine cycles (zero-max-zero) respectively and both are of critical importance for ensuring structural integrity of engine components. The life estimation showed LCF life of more than 4000 mission reference cycles, infinite HCF life and well above 2000 h of creep life. This work had become an integral part of the health monitoring, performance evaluation as well as control system of the aero gas turbine engine.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document