BLADE EROSION IN AUTOMOTIVE GAS-TURBINE ENGINE

In this work, a study has been conducted to predict blade erosion and surface deterioration of the free power turbine of an automotive gas t urbine engine. The blade material erosion model is based on three-dime nsional particle trajectory simulations in the three-dimensional turbi ne flow field. The particle rebound characteristics after surface impa cts were determined from experimental measurements of restitution rati os for blade material samples in a particulate flow tunnel. The trajec tories provide the spatial distribution of the particle impact paramet ers over the blade surfaces. A semi-empirical erosion model, derived f rom erosion tests of material samples at different particulate flow co nditions, is used in the prediction of blade surface erosion based on the trajectory impact data. The results are presented for the three-di mensional particle trajectories through the turbine blade passages, th e particle impact locations, blade surface erosion pattern, and the as sociated erasion parameters. These parameters include impact velocity impact angle, and impact frequency. The data can be used for life pred iction and performance deterioration of the automotive engine under in vestigation.