Constitutive modelling and creep life prediction of a directionally solidified turbine blade under service loadings

Abstract

The high pressure turbine (HPT) blade of a heavy duty gas turbine operates under the interaction of complex aerodynamic, centrifugal and thermal loadings. The reliability of continuous working at elevated temperatures is a major limitation in service application of these materials. Therefore, it is essential to build the constitutive equations for predicting and analysing the creep deformation and creep lifetime of the blade. In present work, the creep deformation and lifetime of a HPT blade made of a nickel-based directionally solidified (DS) superalloy was numerically predicted. The θ-projection method was used to characterize the creep deformation of DZ125 under different temperatures and stress levels. The uniaxial equations of the θ-projection method were expanded into multi-axial form which was implemented into ABAQUS/UMAT (User MATerial subroutine) by an Euler method. A modified θ-projection method was employed to promote the adaptability of the original model to both steady state and transient temperature fields. Transient stress, strain and displacement distribution of the critical position inside the blade were obtained for service loading. The Larson–Miller parameter was employed to predict the creep lifetime of the blade. Simulation and results of the θ-projection method may also provide suggestions for the safety and life evaluation of HPT blade and other turbine blades.

Keywords:

• Ni-based directionally solidified superalloy
• Creep
• θ-projection
• Turbine blades
• Life prediction