Impacts of low-pressure (LP) compressor’s deterioration upon an aero-engine’s high-pressure (HP) turbine blade’s life consumption

Abstract

AbstractSome in-service deterioration in any mechanical device, such as an aero-engine, is inevitable. As a result of experiencing a deterioration of efficiency and/or mass flow, an aero-engine will automatically adjust to a different set of operating characteristics; thereby frequently resulting in changes of rpm and/or turbine entry temperature in order to provide the same thrust. Rises in the turbine entry-temperatures and the high-pressure turbine’s rotational speed result in greater rates of creep and fatigue damage being incurred by the hot-end components and thereby higher engine’s life cycle costs. Possessing a better knowledge of the effects of engine deterioration upon the aircraft’s performance, as well as fuel and life usages, helps the users to take wiser management decisions and hence achieve improved engine utilisation. For a military aircraft, using a computer performance simulation, the consequences of low-pressure (LP) compressor’s deterioration upon an aero-engine high-pressure (HP) turbine blade’s life-consumption have been predicted.