| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/T07329/01 |
| Title: |
Luminescence Piezo-spectroscopy for Lifetime Assessment and Improvement of Thermal Barrier Coatings |
| Principal Investigator: |
Atkinson, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Materials |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2005 |
Ends: |
30 September 2008 |
Value (£): |
314,870
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Energy - Conventional |
Materials Processing |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Gas turbine engines rely on thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on high pressure turbine blades to allow higher gas temperatures and achieve greater fuel efficiency and the integrity and lifetime of the TBC are crucial for future competitive performance. The overall aim of the project is to develop more reliable approaches to predicting the failure of TBCs on high pressure turbine blades and design improved TBC systems. This will be done by combining photo-luminescence piezo-spectroscopy, finite element mechanistic modelling and customised TBC fabrication methods. Piezospectroscopy is a non-destructive technique for monitoring the stress in the thermally grown aluminium oxide (TGO),that forms at high temperature in the coating. When the TGO is damaged locally, this can be seen in the spectroscopic signal. This is a powerful tool for monitoring the accumulation of damage and could form the basis of an NDE method for estimating residual life in service. The stresses that cause damage will be estimated by the numerical modelling and then used to calculate the piezo-spectroscopic signatures of typical defects in order to validate interpretation of the spectra. The modelling approach will be extended to cover nucleation and growth of the damaged regions and how this depends on coating parameters. The customised TBCs will be used to isolate particular parameters (such as coating thickness and interface roughness) for investigation by piezospectroscopy in order to validate the model. Finally the understanding will be applied to develop methodology for the design of better coatings and give more accurate approaches to estimating their lifetime. The project will be carried out jointly by Imperial College and Cranfield University working in close collaboration with commercial producers and users of TBCs (Rolls-Royce, Chromalloy, Alstom and DSTL).
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.imperial.ac.uk |