The reliability of a gas or steam turbine is strongly
dependent on the blade structural design.
Turbine blades are subjected
to very strenuous environments such as high temperatures, high stresses, and a
potentially high vibration environment. To avoid blade failures, they must be
designed to withstand these conditions.
Computational
simulation is commonly used to predict the failure conditions for a given blade
design, and accurate modeling and material properties are essential to produce
realistic results. FEA is a powerful tool for estimating blade stresses, and
the addition of design process automation and optimization tools allows optimal
designs to be achieved in a reasonable amount of time.
Download this Technology Brief, to read how Abaqus and Isight
tools can be used for this task.