Fracture Mechanics in TurboManager Quickens Blade Failure Investigations.

Authors :: Rao, J. S.
Source :: International Review of Aerospace Engineering; Dec2009, Vol. 2 Issue 6, p329-338, 10p, 20 Color Photographs, 1 Black and White Photograph, 3 Diagrams, 2 Charts, 7 Graphs
Publication Year :: 2009
Abstract: Blade failures are observed ever since Frank Whittle faced problems with his W2 jet engine development during the II World War. They continue to happen even now with advances in engine designs. Stress based and Strain based life estimation help in design stage; however a failure always has a tell-tale story of Fracture with Crack Initiation and Propagation that embeds all the clues of how the failure occurred. A study of this fracture surface helps in understanding the underlying phenomena in the machine causing the failure. Here a case study is described in understanding a blade fracture through a process driven tool "TurboManager" developed with several modules as a turbine life estimation work bench for the rotating machine components. It is shown how such a tool helps in blade failure investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]