Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Turbine engine”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18

Tests of NASA ceramic thermal barrier coating for gas-turbine engines

A NASA ceramic thermal barrier coating (TBC) system was tested by industrial and governmental organizations for a variety of aeronautical marine, and ground-based gas-turbine engine applications. This TBC is a two-layer system with a bond coating of nickel-chromium-aluminum-yttrium (Ni-16Cr-6Al-0.6Y, in wt %) and a ceramic coating of yttria stabilized zirconia (ZrO2-12Y2O3, in wt %). Tests (Liebert and Stenka, 1979) have been conducted to determine corrosion resistance, thermal protection, durability, thermal conductivity, and fatigue characteristics. The information presented covers some of the significant test results obtained on the first three items. The information also includes photographs of coated parts after tests, measurements of coating loss, amount of metal wall temperature reduction when the TBC is used, and extent of base metal corrosion.

Liebert, C. H.↗

Evaluation of ceramics for stator applications: Gas turbine engines interim report. Stator fabrication and evaluation

The objective was to assess current ceramic materials, fabrication processes, reliability prediction, and stator durability when subjected to simulated automotive gas turbine engine operating conditions. Ceramic one-piece stators were fabricated of two materials, silicon nitride and silicon carbide, using two near-net-shape processes, slip casting and injection molding. Non-destructive evaluation tests were conducted on all stators identifying irregularities which could contribute to failures under durability testing. Development of the test rig and automatic control system for repeatably controlling air flow rate and temperature over a highly transient durability duty cycle is discussed. Durability results are presented for repeated thermal cycle testing of the ceramic one-piece stators. Two duty cycles were used, encompassing the temperature ranges of 704 to 1204 C (1300 to 2200 F) and 871 to 1371 C (1600 to 2500 F). Tests were conducted on 28 stators, accumulating 135,551 cycles in 2441 hours of hot testing. Cyclic durability for the ceramic one-piece stator was demonstrated to be in excess of 500 hours, accumulating over 28,850 thermal cycles. Ceramic interface forces were found to be the significant factor in limiting stator life rather than the scatter in material strength properties or the variation in component defects encountered.

Arnon, N.↗

Impact Resistance of Lightweight Hybrid Structures for Gas Turbine Engine Fan Containment Applications

The ballistic impact resistance of hybrid composite sandwich structures was evaluated with the ultimate goal of developing new materials or structures for potential gas turbine engine fan containment applications. The sandwich structures investigated consisted of GLARE-5 laminates as face sheets with lightweight cellular metallic materials such as honeycomb, foam, and lattice block as a core material. The impact resistance of these hybrid sandwich structures was compared to GLARE-5 laminates and 2024-T3 Al sheet, which were tested as a function of areal weight (material thickness). The GLARE-5 laminates exhibited comparable impact properties to that of 2024-T3 Al at low areal weights, even though there were significant differences in the static tensile properties of these materials. The GLARE-5, however, did have a greater ballistic limit than straight aluminum sheet at higher areal weights. Furthermore, there is up to a 25% advantage in ballistic limit for the GLARE-5/foam sandwich structures compared to straight 2024-T3 Al. But no advantage in ballistic limit was observed between any of the hybrid sandwich structures and thicker versions of GLARE-5. Recommendations for future work are provided, based on these preliminary data.

Hebsur, Mohan G.↗

Ceramic Bearings For Gas-Turbine Engines

Report reviews data from three decades of research on bearings containing rolling elements and possibly other components made of ceramics. Ceramic bearings attractive for use in gas-turbine engines because ceramics generally retain strengths and resistances to corrosion over range of temperatures greater than typical steels used in rolling-element bearings. Text begins with brief description of historical developments in field. Followed by discussion of effects of contact stress on fatigue life of rolling element. Supplemented by figures and tables giving data on fatigue lives of rolling elements made of various materials. Analyzes data on effects of temperature and speed on fatigue lives for several materials and operating conditions. Followed by discussion of related topic of generation of heat in bearings, with consideration of effects of bearing materials, lubrication, speeds, and loads.

Zaretsky, Erwin V.↗

Optimization of an oxide dispersion strengthened Ni-Cr-Al alloy for gas turbine engine vanes

The investigation was carried out to determine the optimum alloy within the Ni-16Cr-Al-Y2O3 system for use as a vane material in advanced aircraft gas turbine engines. Six alloys containing nominally 4%, 5% and 6% Al with Y2O3 levels of 0.8% and 1.2% were prepared by mechanical attrition. Six small-scale, rectangular extrusions were produced from each powder lot for property evaluation. The approximate temperatures for incipient melting were found to be 1658 K (2525 F), 1644 K (2500 F) and 1630 K (2475 F) for the 4%, 5% and 6% aluminum levels, respectively. With the exception of longitudinal crystallographic texture, the eight extrusions selected for extensive evaluation either exceeded or were close to mechanical property goals. Major differences between the alloys became apparent during dynamic oxidation testing, and in particular during the 1366 K (2000 F)/500 hour Mach 1 tests carried out by NASA-Lewis. An aluminum level of 4.75% was subsequently judged to be optimum based on considerations of dynamic oxidation resistance, susceptibility to thermal fatigue cracking and melting point.

Klarstrom, D. L.↗

Nonlinear constitutive theory for turbine engine structural analysis

A number of viscoplastic constitutive theories and a conventional constitutive theory are evaluated and compared in their ability to predict nonlinear stress-strain behavior in gas turbine engine components at elevated temperatures. Specific application of these theories is directed towards the structural analysis of combustor liners undergoing transient, cyclic, thermomechanical load histories. The combustor liner material considered in this study is Hastelloy X. The material constants for each of the theories (as a function of temperature) are obtained from existing, published experimental data. The viscoplastic theories and a conventional theory are incorporated into a general purpose, nonlinear, finite element computer program. Several numerical examples of combustor liner structural analysis using these theories are given to demonstrate their capabilities. Based on the numerical stress-strain results, the theories are evaluated and compared.

Thompson, R. L.↗

Ceramic thermal barrier coatings for gas turbine engines

The results of studies concerning the high temperature corrosion resistance of ZrO2-Y2O3, ZrO2-MgO, and Ca2SiO4 plasma-sprayed coatings, which may be used as gas turbine engine thermal barriers, are reported. The coatings were evaluated in atmospheric burner rig and pressurized passage tests, using GT No. 2 fuel in pure form and with sodium, sulfur and vanadium corrosive impurities doping. It is found that, while the coatings performed well in both pressurized passage and burner rig tests with pure fuel chemical reactions between the ceramic coatings and combustion gases/condensates resulted in coating degradation with impure fuels. Chemical reactions between the ceramic coatings and vanadium compounds played a critical role in coating degradation.

Bratton, R. J.↗

General Aviation Turbine Engine (GATE) Overview

When all the technology studies were done and the accompanying market analyses were complete, the conclusion was that it is indeed possible to reduce the cost of turbine engines by a factor of 3 using low-cost manufacturing techniques and increased production rates. In the interest of reducing engine cost, some performance was sacrificed. Yet we ended up with about a 20 percent predicted improvement in SFC over current technology turboprops. However, even this level of improvement does not match the low SFC of reciprocating powerplants--particularly those advanced concepts described earlier. The 20 percent better SFC and much lower weight of a turboprop does mean that if such a powerplant were installed in a resized small airplane, one could save between 10 and 30 percent fuel relative to existing recip engines, depending on different mission and airplane combinations. The price of the aircraft would go down about 15 percent in the case of a high powered single, or 25 percent in the case of a normal size twin. The operating costs would decrease about 10 percent in the case of the single, and as much as 35 percent in the case of the twin.

Strack, W. C.↗

Comparative evaluation of gas-turbine engine combustion chamber starting and stalling characteristics for mechanical and air-injection

The effectiveness of propellant atomization with and without air injection in the combustion chamber nozzle of a gas turbine engine is studied. Test show that the startup and burning performance of these combustion chambers can be improved by using an injection during the mechanical propellant atomization process. It is shown that the operational range of combustion chambers can be extended to poorer propellant mixtures by combined air injection mechanical atomization of the propellant.

Dyatlov, I. N.↗

Materials for Advanced Turbine Engines (MATE): Project 3: Design, fabrication and evaluation of an oxide dispersion strengthened sheet alloy combustor liner, volume 1

The suitability of wrought oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) superalloy sheet for gas turbine engine combustor applications was evaluated. Incoloy MA 956 (FeCrAl base) and Haynes Developmental Alloy (HDA) 8077 (NiCrAl base) were evaluated. Preliminary tests showed both alloys to be potentially viable combustor materials, with neither alloy exhibiting a significant advantage over the other. Both alloys demonstrated a +167C (300 F) advantage of creep and oxidation resistance with no improvement in thermal fatigue capability compared to a current generation combustor alloy (Hastelloy X). MA956 alloy was selected for further demonstration because it exhibited better manufacturing reproducibility than HDA8077. Additional property tests were conducted on MA956. To accommodate the limited thermal fatigue capability of ODS alloys, two segmented, mechanically attached, low strain ODS combustor design concepts having predicted fatigue lives or = 10,000 engine cycles were identified. One of these was a relatively conventional louvered geometry, while the other involved a transpiration cooled configuration. A series of 10,000 cycle combustor rig tests on subscale MA956 and Hastelloy X combustor components showed no cracking, thereby confirming the beneficial effect of the segmented design on thermal fatigue capability. These tests also confirmed the superior oxidation and thermal distortion resistance of the ODS alloy. A hybrid PW2037 inner burner liner containing MA956 and Hastelloy X components was designed and constructed.

Henricks, R. J.↗

Intermetallic and ceramic matrix composites for 815 to 1370 C (1500 to 2500 F) gas turbine engine applications

Light weight and potential high temperature capability of intermetallic compounds, such as the aluminides, and structural ceramics, such as the carbides and nitrides, make these materials attractive for gas turbine engine applications. In terms of specific fuel consumption and specific thrust, revolutionary improvements over current technology are being sought by realizing the potential of these materials through their use as matrices combined with high strength, high temperature fibers. The U.S. along with other countries throughout the world have major research and development programs underway to characterize these composites materials; improve their reliability; identify and develop new processing techniques, new matrix compositions, and new fiber compositions; and to predict their life and failure mechanisms under engine operating conditions. The status is summarized of NASA's Advanced High Temperature Engine Materials Technology Program (HITEMP) and the potential benefits are described to be gained in 21st century transport aircraft by utilizing intermetallic and ceramic matrix composite materials.

Stephens, Joseph R.↗

MATE (Materials for Advanced Turbine Engines) Program, Project 3. Volume 2: Design, fabrication and evaluation of an oxide dispersion strengthened sheet alloy combustor liner

The suitability of wrought oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) superalloy sheet for gas turbine engine combustor applications was evaluated. Two yttria (Y2O3) dispersion strengthened alloys were evaluated; Incoloy MA956 and Haynes Development Alloy (HDA) 8077 (NiCrAl base). Preliminary tests showed both alloys to be potentially viable combustor materials, with neither alloy exhibiting a significant advantage over the other. MA956 was selected as the final alloy based on manufacturing reproducibility for evaluation as a burner liner. A hybrid PW2037 inner burner liner containing MA956 and Hastelloy X components and using a louvered configuration was designed and constructed. The louvered configuration was chosen because of field experience and compatibility with the bill of material PW2037 design. The simulated flight cycle for the ground based engine tests consisted of 4.5 min idle, 1.5 min takeoff and intermediate conditions in a PW2037 engine with average uncorrected combustor exit temperature of 1527 C. Post test evaluation consisting of visual observations and fluorescent penetrant inspections was conducted after 500 cycles of testing. No loss of integrity in the burner liner was shown.

Bose, S.↗

Thermal Load Considerations for Detonative Combustion-Based Gas Turbine Engines

An analysis was conducted to assess methods for, and performance implications of, cooling the passages (tubes) of a pulse detonation-based combustor conceptually installed in the core of a gas turbine engine typical of regional aircraft. Temperature-limited material stress criteria were developed from common-sense engineering practice, and available material properties. Validated, one-dimensional, numerical simulations were then used to explore a variety of cooling methods and establish whether or not they met the established criteria. Simulation output data from successful schemes were averaged and used in a cycle-deck engine simulation in order to assess the impact of the cooling method on overall performance. Results were compared to both a baseline engine equipped with a constant-pressure combustor and to one equipped with an idealized detonative combustor. Major findings indicate that thermal loads in these devices are large, but potentially manageable. However, the impact on performance can be substantial. Nearly one half of the ideally possible specific fuel consumption (SFC) reduction is lost due to cooling of the tubes. Details of the analysis are described, limitations are presented, and implications are discussed.

Paxson, Daniel E.↗

Blade Surface Pressure Distributions in a Rocket Engine Turbine: Experimental Work With On-Blade Pressure Transducers

Understanding the unsteady aspects of turbine rotor flowfields is critical to successful future turbine designs. A technology program was conducted at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to increase the understanding of unsteady environments for rocket engine turbines. The experimental program involved instrumenting turbine rotor blades with surface-mounted high frequency response pressure transducers. The turbine model was then tested to measure the unsteady pressures on the rotor blades. The data obtained from the experimental program is unique in three respects. First, much more unsteady data was obtained (several minutes per set point) than has been possible in the past. Also, two independent unsteady data acquisition systems and fundamental signal processing approaches were used. Finally, an extensive steady performance database existed for the turbine model. This allowed an evaluation of the effect of the on-blade instrumentation on the turbine's performance. This unique data set, the lessons learned for acquiring this type of data, and the improvements made to the data analysis and prediction tools will contribute to future turbine programs such as those for reusable launch vehicles.

Hudson, Susan T.↗

Rocket Engine Turbine Blade Surface Pressure Distributions Experiment and Computations

Understanding the unsteady aspects of turbine rotor flow fields is critical to successful future turbine designs. A technology program was conducted at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to increase the understanding of unsteady environments for rocket engine turbines. The experimental program involved instrumenting turbine rotor blades with miniature surface mounted high frequency response pressure transducers. The turbine model was then tested to measure the unsteady pressures on the rotor blades. The data obtained from the experimental program is unique in two respects. First, much more unsteady data was obtained (several minutes per set point) than has been possible in the past. Also, an extensive steady performance database existed for the turbine model. This allowed an evaluation of the effect of the on-blade instrumentation on the turbine's performance. A three-dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes analysis was also used to blindly predict the unsteady flow field in the turbine at the design operating conditions and at +15 degrees relative incidence to the first-stage rotor. The predicted time-averaged and unsteady pressure distributions show good agreement with the experimental data. This unique data set, the lessons learned for acquiring this type of data, and the improvements made to the data analysis and prediction tools are contributing significantly to current Space Launch Initiative turbine airflow test and blade surface pressure prediction efforts.

Hudson, Susan T.↗

A Fully Nonmetallic Gas Turbine Engine Enabled by Additive Manufacturing, Part II: Additive Manufacturing and Characterization of Polymer Composites

This publication is the second part of the three part report of the project entitled "A Fully Nonmetallic Gas Turbine Engine Enabled by Additive Manufacturing" funded by NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI). The objective of this project was to conduct additive manufacturing to produce aircraft engine components by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), using commercially available polyetherimides-Ultem 9085 and experimental Ultem 1000 mixed with 10% chopped carbon fiber. A property comparison between FDM-printed and injection molded coupons for Ultem 9085, Ultem 1000 resin and the fiber-filled composite Ultem 1000 was carried out. Furthermore, an acoustic liner was printed from Ultem 9085 simulating conventional honeycomb structured liners and tested in a wind tunnel. Composite compressor inlet guide vanes were also printed using fiber-filled Ultem 1000 filaments and tested in a cascade rig. The fiber-filled Ultem 1000 filaments and composite vanes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and acid digestion to determine the porosity of FDM-printed articles which ranged from 25 to 31%. Coupons of Ultem 9085, experimental Ultem 1000 composites and XH6050 resin were tested at room temperature and 400F to evaluate their corresponding mechanical properties. A preliminary modeling was also initiated to predict the mechanical properties of FDM-printed Ultem 9085 coupons in relation to varied raster angles and void contents, using the GRC-developed MAC/GMC program.

Polymer↗

Analysis of the impact of the use of broad specification fuels on combustors for commercial aircraft gas turbine engines

An analytical study was conducted to assess the impact of the use of broad specification fuels with reduced hydrogen content on the design, performance, durability, emissions and operational characteristics of combustors for commercial aircraft gas turbine engines. The study was directed at defining necessary design revisions to combustors designed for use of Jet A when such are operated on ERBS (Experimental Referee Broad Specification Fuel) which has a nominal hydrogen content of 12.8 percent as opposed to 13.7 percent in current Jet A. The results indicate that improvements in combustor liner cooling, and/or materials, and methods of fuel atomization will be required if the hydrogen content of aircraft gas turbine fuel is decreased.

Szetela, E. J.↗