| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R78992/01 |
| Title: |
Simulation of Microstructural Defects in Investment Cast Turbine Blades |
| Principal Investigator: |
Lee, Professor P |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Materials |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2002 |
Ends: |
31 March 2006 |
Value (£): |
256,425
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Manufacturing |
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| Related Grants: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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One of the critical factors in the evolution of the modern gas turbine is the development of new nickel-base superalloys which have allowed every higher combustion temperatures and hence improved efficiency with reduced environmental impact. However, with the concomitant required change in solidification structure (equiaxed to directionally solidified and then to single crystal), the prevention of defect formation is becoming increasingly challenging. This research programme proposes to develop a validated model to predict the microstructural features and solidification defects in investment cast nickel base superalloys. The model will be three phase (liquid, solid and gas), multicomponent, and multiscale: resolving the dendritic structure and microsegregation at the finest scale (microstructural), grains and porosity at the intermediate scale (mesoscopic), and coupled into a commercial code to simulate macroscopic heat transfer and fluid flow. The model will be validated against both laboratory scale quenched directional solidification experiments and industrial investment casting, covering the new applications of single crystal alloys to not only blades, but the difficult geometries of nozzle guide vanes and shrouds in the Trent 900 engine. By applying this model, a new insight into the influence of alloy and solidification conditions upon the formation of defects (e.g. stray grains, and porosity) will be sought.
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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 |