| Abstract Scope |
The expansion of commercial aviation has been enabled by advances in gas turbine technology. These advances have in turn been enabled by improvements in materials, including superalloys. The aviation propulsion community has developed new superalloy compositions and new processing methods, with the new alloys informally referred to as “generations” of superalloys. The early generation advances were focused primarily on high temperature mechanical properties such as creep, but it has become more critical to develop a “Life Cycle” understanding to extend operating lives and improve economics for superalloy components. Higher temperature strength and creep capability remain important but must be coupled with a more balanced development approach, with cyclic fatigue capability, environmental resistance, and repair methodology also critical to success. This presentation will discuss how interactive improvements in alloy composition, processing, environmental resistance, and repair technology are driving the aviation gas turbine industry forward and advancing the state of the art. |