Development of a lifing methodology for ceramic matrix composites in aero gas turbine engines

Objective

Objectives and content:

Cost, performance, weight and emissions requirements for future aero gas turbines require increased temperatures without reducing component reliability. Only ceramic materials can offer a significant increase in material temperature capability in an oxidising environment, and in order to maintain damage tolerance and reliability these need to be used in the form of continuous fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composites.

However, introduction of:
Such materials into future engine development programs requires good prediction of the component integrity and life to be made before expensive engine tests are performed. Production application requires guaranteed component lives well beyond the experiences, which can be gained in development engines. At present, component lives can only be estimated by crude comparison with fatigue and stress rupture databases. No allowance can be made for progressive damage, multiaxial loading, and thermal cycling. This project is concerned with the identification of design criteria for these materials and the development and validation of a material model to permit the lifting of CMC components in aero gas turbines.

The practical objectives of this research project are: Assessment of the life limiting degradation mechanisms under representative service conditions for examples of Oxide and Non-Oxide fibre based CMCs. Generation of a reliable mechanical property database covering representative engine/cyclic lives. Identification of design criteria. Development and validation of a life prediction model.

These objectives will be tackled in six interlined tasks: Procurement and characterisation of material. Performance testing. Investigation of deformation and damage mechanisms. Development of a constitutive and lifetime prediction model. Validation of the model. Assessment of the applicability of the model to possible non-aero spin-offs. The consortium brings together seven partners plus one major subcontractor. The five industrial partners include four aero and one industrial gas turbine manufacturer who are committed to exploiting the results of the project in the design of CMS components to improve the competitiveness of their products, thereby maintaining the market share obtained by the European industry. They are complemented by two of the leading research organisations in the field. BE97-4020

Programme(s)

• FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0301 - Aeronautics

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Rolls Royce PLC

Address

Elton Road
DE24 8BJ Derby
United Kingdom

 

Participants (7)

ANSALDO RICERCHE SPA*

Italy

Address

Corso Perrone 25
16152 Genova

 

BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH - Aeroengines

Germany

Address

11,Eschenweg
15827 Dahlewitz

 

CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS E INVESTIGACIONES TECNICAS DE GUIPUZKOA

Spain

Address

15,Paseo De Manuel De Lardizabal 15
20009 San Sebastian

 

Commission of the European Communities

Netherlands

Address

3,Westerduinweg
1755 ZG Petten

 

INDUSTRIA DE TURBO PROPULSORES SA

Spain

Address

300,Parque Technologico 300
48170 Zamudio

 

MTU Motoren- und Turbinen-Union München GmbH

Germany

Address

665,Dachauer Strasse
80995 München

 

QINETIQ LIMITED

United Kingdom

Address

85 Buckingham Gate
London