Sand particle-Induced deterioration of thermal barrier coatings on gas turbine blades

Gas turbines operating in dusty or sandy environment polluted with micron-sized solid particles are highly prone to blade surface erosion damage in compressor stages and molten sand attack in the hot-sections of turbine stages. Commercial/Military fixed-wing aircraft engines and helicopter engines often have to operate over sandy terrains in the middle eastern countries or in volcanic zones; on the other hand gas turbines in marine applications are subjected to salt spray, while the coal-burning industrial power generation turbines are subjected to fly-ash. The presence of solid particles in the working fluid medium has an adverse effect on the durability of these engines as well as performance. Typical turbine blade damages include blade coating wear, sand glazing, Calcia-Magnesia-Alumina-Silicate (CMAS) attack, oxidation, plugged cooling holes, all of which can cause rapid performance deterioration including loss of aircraft. The focus of this research work is to simulate particle-surface kinetic interaction on typical turbomachinery material targets using non-linear dynamic impact analysis. The objective of this research is to understand the interfacial kinetic behaviors that can provide insights into the physics of particle interactions and to enable leap ahead technologies in material choices and to develop sand-phobic thermal barrier coatings for turbine blades. This paper outlines the research efforts at the U.S Army Research Laboratory to come up with novel turbine blade multifunctional protective coatings that are sand-phobic, sand impact wear resistant, as well as have very low thermal conductivity for improved performance of future gas turbine engines. The research scope includes development of protective coatings for both nickel-based super alloys and ceramic matrix composites.