A Method of Avoiding Catastrophic Failures in Turbo-Machinery

Author:  John S. Eckersley and Bruce Billings
Source:  Turbo Machinery Conference - Toronto
Doc ID:  1989063
Year of Publication:  1989
Abstract:  
Catastrophic failures in turbo machinery are most often attributed to metal fatigue, a phenomenon that is the result of cyclic tensile stresses acting upon the doomed part. Turbine components are subject to tensile stresses from axial centrifugal force, from bending and from torsion. In many cases, as in blades, all threse may be present and the detrimental effect is further agrabated by environmental conditions (corrosion fatigue); by localized wear (fretting fatigue); by rolling or sliding welding or grinding. Tensile stresses are usually highest at the surface and are concentrated by notches, holes, heat affected zones and physical damage.