DARLING – Damaged and Repaired Blade Modeling with in-situ Experiments

Purpose and goal

** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** The project focuses on aerodynamic and aeromechanical evaluation and detection of wear, damage, and repair of fan and compressor blades in modern aircraft engines. Improved methods for calculation and diagnostics with regard to wear and damage must be developed and tested in a laboratory environment. The goal is then to make it possible to make better use of the material and increase accessibility, for example through replacement and inspection, which when good access is lacking can lead to the dismantling of the aircraft engine.

Expected effects and result

** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** Repair of aircraft engine components is very important from a sustainability perspective as through the repair action you regain performance and can avoid completely replacing components in the engine. Results will consist of methods and innovative ways to use calculation results from advanced models together with in-situ measurement of vibrations and pressure to be able to assess wear and damage on blades in operation based on the data. This increases understanding of, and is a step towards, being able to apply a similar method industrially.

Planned approach and implementation

** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** Based on available calculation models and data generated in test rigs, models are built up which form the basis for simplified dynamic models of the machine and expected outcomes. These are tested and calibrated against several models for verification that are developed and used to verify the model´s ability to identify wear and damage in operation. The geo-implementation takes place at KTH where models are built and in collaboration with the University of Stuttgart where a suitable rig and test set-up is available.