MATERIALS RESEARCH & DESIGN INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration STTR Phase I: As the power density of advanced engines increases, the need for new materials that are ca

Description

As the power density of advanced engines increases, the need for new materials that are capable of higher operating temperatures, such as ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), is critical for turbine hot-section static and rotating components. Such advanced materials have demonstrated the promise to significantly increase the engine operating temperature relative to conventional super alloy metallic blades. They also show the potential to enable longer life, reduced emissions, growth margin, reduced weight and increased performance relative to super alloy blade materials.MR & D is proposing to perform a combined analytical, fabrication and experimental program to achieve the program objectives of developing innovative approaches to improving foreign object damage (FOD) resistance of CMC materials, specifically with Hyper-Therm High Temperature Ceramics's material system as this will be used by Rolls Royce for turbine engine hot-section components. MR & D will develop finite element math models of the CMC material specimens and the high velocity metal projectiles to simulate impact testing. The models will first be verified by reproducing experimental data measured on impacted baseline CMC specimens. Thereafter, candidate methods for potential improvement of the FOD resistance will be analytically investigated through mathematical simulations of impact tests.