Robust Adaptive Turbine Airfoil Manufacturing in a Production Environment via the Digital Thread
Abstract
In todays digital age, enterprises can easily identify the many potential applications and associated benefits of data-driven manufacturing. Pilot programs have demonstrated the benefits of data-driven manufacturing, but there are few examples of a digital thread establishment in high volume production from which small and medium enterprises can learn and leverage. GE Aviation is committed to implementation of the digital thread needed to effectively manufacture increasingly complex designs aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing lifecycle costs of gas turbine engines. In 2014, U.S. air carriers spent $48 billion consuming 16.8 billion gallons of fuel [1]. The FAA forecasts that U.S. airline fuel consumption will increase by an average of 1.6 percent each year through 2025 [2]. Thus, a 1 percent reduction in fuel consumption through adaptive manufacturing via the digital thread would equate to over 500 million dollars per year in U.S. fuel savings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1078281
Entities
People
- Clay Carlson
- Kris Hill
- Kyusic Park
- Rajesh Ramamurthy
- Ron Keller
- Scott Campbell
- Thomas Mantkowski
- Xiaoping Qian
Organizations
- GE Global Research