Experimental determination of thermal-fatigue life of turbine blades with various coatings made of an advanced heat resistant nickel alloy

An original CIAM know-how for the experimental determination of thermal-fatigue life of parts of the gas-turbine engine hot section, including parts with heat-resistant and ceramic thermal barrier coatings, in the conditions of superficial uneven heating by high-frequency currents with continuous cooling of the parts at the preset air consumption is outlined in the paper.  The possibility of using high-frequency heating of the parts with coatings (including thermal protection coatings) for modeling superficial heating of full-scale parts of gas-turbine engines is shown on the basis of the tests of model samples with coatings controlling the temperature of the surface by means of a thermal imager. The method used makes it possible to simulate the thermal state of the part in the operating conditions. Temperature differences observed both over the surface and the thickness of a part create thermal stresses in the material, similar to those arising during the operation of the engine. If necessary, mechanical loads synchronized with changes in temperature, to simulate for example, the centrifugal force may be applied to the part. The article presents the results of experimental studies of thermal-fatigue life of rotor blades of the 1st stage of the turbine made of an advanced monocrystal alloy VZhM-5 without coating and with various protective coatings, conducted according in the regime Tmin↔Tmax = 350↔1050˚C.