Gas penetrant inspection: A low cost solution to infant mortality and higher turbine blade life

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:207973

Glatz, J ^[1]; Mahon, A ^[2]; Paglieri, R ^[3]

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1. Navy, Holland, PA (United States)
2. Qual-X Inc., Powell, OH (United States)
3. ACI Industries, Dublin, OH (United States)

A small percentage of turbine blades fail or crack prematurely due to casting flaws. This problem is generic and occurs in gas turbine engines. Research with gas penetrants has identified routine liquid fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) errors as the cause. The Krypton Evaluation Technique (KET), a gas penetrant nondestructive inspection method, effectively identifies the potentially low lifers in FPI approved turbine blades. Replacing one of the 3 FPI`S, now performed on all new turbine blades, with a KET inspection is a much lower cost alternative to the current industry-wide multiple FPI quality assurance strategy. This best practice recommendation protects the end users from unexpected failures and premature cracking and allows them to achieve higher blade life. This logic would also apply to overhauled and repaired parts.

• OSTI ID: 207973
• Report Number(s): CONF-9510265--; ISBN 1-57117-013-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ACCURACY
CRACK PROPAGATION
GAS TURBINE ENGINES
LIQUID PENETRANT INSPECTION
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
SERVICE LIFE
TURBINE BLADES