Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Manufacturing Initiative
Abstract
Turbine engines are the main propulsion system for virtually all DoD aircraft and helicopters and also power an array of ships and tanks. Improvements in manufacturing process technology must be achieved with each new generation of engines for these challenging new designs to be manufactured with acceptable quality, cost, and delivery rate to meet the warfighters’ needs. This initiative seeks to advance and establish the manufacturing technologies for CMCs needed to support the development, production and sustainment of advanced gas turbine engines. Successful efforts will enable the use of CMCs for defense systems, resulting in significant life cycle cost avoidance through improved fuel efficiencies and greatly reduced maintenance costs over metallic flaps and seals and vanes for turbine engines. Program Outputs: demonstrate the advancement of CMC manufacturing technologies that result in: 1) improved non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques 2) reduced production time, 3) consistent performance of the CMC materials, and 4) reduced unit cost such that CMC materials can be incorporated Advanced Turbine Engines resulting in 1) reduced weight, 2) increased engine performance, 3) decreased maintenance, 4) increased production flow through, and 5) increased safety. Advanced manufacturing material processes will reduce re-work, increase production capacity, and enable production rate requirements for engine components. Life cycle cost avoidance for this initiative is projected in the billions, with technology maturity within three to five years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- 3857f9d41c5ad234ec2269dd233ae10d