A Gas Turbine Engine Simulating Test Facility for Development of Advanced Thermal and Environmental Coatings
Abstract
Dr. David Shifler Office of Naval Research, Materials Division (Code 332) This proposal seeks $499,568 to design and assemble the Nation’s first laboratory scale testing facility that controllably simulates the mechanical loads, the spatial/temporal temperature gradients, and the chemical/particulate environment present in the gas turbine engines that will provide propulsion for tomorrow’s ships and aircraft. The facility will be used to investigate the mechanisms by which the materials proposed for the these new engines are degraded by exposure to temperatures that will eventually exceed 1800oC, by environmental attack from water vapor and oxygen containing combustion product gases at pressures of 20 atmospheres, and by cyclic mechanical stresses in excess of 300 MPa. While a variety of facilities have been developed to allow investigation of pairs of the three main variables (stress, temperature and environment), the synergistic interactions of all three has been very difficult to access in a manner consistent with fundamental scientific research. The proposed laser, steam and load (LSL) testing facility uses a combination of steam and CO2 laser heating to expose candidate engine materials (initially silicon carbide based ceramic matrix composites) and their thermal and environmental coatings to surface temperatures approaching 1800oC. Backside test coupon cooling will be used to set up temperature gradients and the thermal shock conditions typical of future engines. Test materials will be controllably loaded used using a servo-hydraulic testing machine with thermally insulated grips during heating. This sample heating and mechanical loading will be conducted within a stainless steel pressure vessel rated to a pressure in excess of 20 atmospheres. Steam and other gases present in a gas turbine will then be introduced using a gas jet based approach that will result in gas-sample impingement velocities in excess of 100 m/s. Particles will be added to the gas jet to simulate particle erosion and induce molten particle interactions with coatings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512933
Entities
People
- H.N.G. Wadley
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Virginia