A multi-scale framework for life reduction assessment of turbine blade caused by microstructural degradation

The prolonged thermal exposure with centrifugal load results in microstructural degradation,which ultimately leads to a reduction in the fatigue and creep resistance of the turbine blades.The present work proposes a multi-scale framework to estimate the life reduction of turbine blades,which combines a microstructural degradation model,a two-phase constitutive model,and a microstructure-dependent fatigue and creep life reduction model.The framework with multi-scale models is validated by a Single Crystal(SC)Ni-based superalloy at the microstructural length-scale and is then applied to calculate the microstructural degradation and the fatigue and creep life reduction of turbine blades under two specific service conditions.The simulation results and quantitative analysis show that the microstructural degradation and fatigue and creep life reduction of the turbine blade are heavily influenced by the variations in the proportion of the intermediate state,namely,the maximum rotor speed status,in the two specific service conditions.The intermediate state accelerates the microstructural degradation and leads to a reduction of the life,especially the effective fatigue life reserve due to the higher temperature and rotational speed than that of the 93%maximum rotor speed status marked as the reference state.The proposed multi-scale framework provides a capable approach to analyze the reduction of the fatigue and creep life for turbine blade induced by microstructural degradation,which can assist to determine a reasonable Time Between Overhaul(TBO)of the engine.

A physically-based representative stress methodology for predicting stress rupture life of Ni-based DS superalloy

Smooth and three types of U-shape single-edge notched plate specimens adopted to experimentally investigate stress rupture behavior of Ni-based Directionally Solidified(DS)superalloy at 850℃ exhibit notch weakening effect and multi-source cracking initiation near the notch root.However,stress rupture behavior of smooth and V-shape notched round bars at 1040℃ revealed by Li et al indicates notch strengthening effect and creep micro-holes originating mostly from the central portion.A combined creep-viscoplastic constitutive model is employed to analyze the distribution of stress,strain and stress Triaxial Factor(TF)near the notch root.The different stress distribution and creep restraint between asymmetric notched plate specimens and symmetric notched round bars are the main reasons for the corresponding failure mechanism.Meanwhile,a good qualitative relationship exists between TF value and stress rupture life of notched specimen.Especially,the area with maximum TF value(TF_(max))is highly consistent with creep damage initiation region.Hence,based on the distribution characteristics of the initial tensile loading,a representative stress method independent of time-changing creep load at the location of TF_(max) is conducted for life prediction.The predicted results of both smooth and notched plate specimens and round bars agrees well with the experimental results.

Experimental,analytical and numerical investigation on tensile behavior of twisted fiber yarns

Stitched composite materials are emerging as a promising material due to their high interlaminar strength,combined performance and light weight.The mechanical properties of stitch yarns are very essential for stitched composite structures.In this study,the tensile behaviors of the twisted fiber yarn in stitched composites were investigated experimentally,analytically and numerically.Two kinds of cross-sectional area of twisted yarn are proposed and discussed.The paper presents an intersecting circle model to describe the cross-section of twisted fiber yarns,and a physics-based theoretical model to predict the effective tensile moduli.The numerical models take into account the cross-sectional characteristic and the twist architecture.The investigation shows that:the sum of each fiber area should be used for experimental analysis;and the crosssectional area surrounded by the yarn profile should be used for theoretical predictions and finite element(FE)simulations.The relative errors of the prediction method and the FE simulation are less than 2%and 1%,respectively.The friction between the fibers is derived,and the effect of friction on mechanical properties is discussed.The investigation method will serve as a fundamental component of twisted fiber bundle/yarn analysis.

An orientation-dependent creep life evaluation method for nickel-based single crystal superalloys

This paper aims to propose a creep life evaluation method considering the effect of crystallographic orientation.First,the maximum Schmid factor of{111}〈112〉and the corresponding lattice rotation angle were introduced to form an“orientation factor”.Then the equivalent stress was calculated by multiplying this factor and the nominal stress.Latterly,the Larson-Miller Parameter(LMP)method was adopted as the rupture life evaluation criteria,in which the input variable was the equivalent stress instead of the nominal stress.All the predictions showed high accuracy when the proposed method was applied to Mar-M247,SC7-14,CMSX-2,Alloy454,CMSX-4 and DD6.Finally,the applicable temperature ranges of the orientation-dependent method(using equivalent stress)and the traditional LMP method(using nominal stress)were discussed.The results show that only the Orientation-Dependent(OD)method is reliable at intermediate temperatures(760–850°C)because the orientation has significant effect on the stress rupture life,while the influence of orientation is considerably reduced at high temperatures.Both methods provide precise predictions in this situation,and the LMP method should be favored since it is much easier to implement.

An energy-based low-cycle fatigue life evaluation method considering anisotropy of single crystal superalloys

The crystal orientation significantly affects the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) propertiesof single crystal (SC) superalloys. However, the orientation-dependent LCF life model withprecise mechanisms and strong applicability is still lacking. This investigation aims at establishing an energy-based LCF life evaluation method that could consider the orientation effect. First,the influencing factors of anisotropy were identified through the literature review. Secondly, themultiaxial formula of the Ramberg-Osgood (ReO) equation was established to describe theanisotropic cyclic deformation characteristics. Furthermore, the strain energy density of SC superalloys was determined based on this equation, and the effective strain energy density wasintroduced to account for the effect of orientation. Finally, the energy-based method was validated by its application to several SC superalloys. Results showed that the crystallographicorientation with a lower Young’s modulus usually exhibits better LCF resistance. This phenomenon could be attributed to the different values of strain energy density dissipated in one cycle.The multiaxial ReO relationship could capture the anisotropic cyclic deformation response ofDD6. Compared with the classical methods, the energy-based model is favored by its precisemechanism and strong applicability. And it also exhibited better prediction accuracy. Most datapoints of different crystallographic orientations lay within the
3 error band.