Author

Jess W. Drab

Date of Award

3-2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Jeffrey P. Bons, PhD

Abstract

This work used scaled samples of actual turbine blade surfaces to characterize correlations between turbine surface roughness, friction coefficient, and convective heat transfer rate-parameters which affect an engine's efficiency and the blade's lifespan. For erosion/deposits, friction coefficients up to 250 times higher and convective heat transfer coefficients of up to 150 times higher were found when compared to a flat plate baseline. Other roughness types (pitting and fuel deposits) yielded less dramatic results. These results did not follow existing friction coefficient-to-heat transfer coefficient correlations, such as the Reynolds analogy. While these analytical and empirical correlations hold for flat plates, they may be inadequate to describe the highly irregular surface roughness found on real in-service turbine blades.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GAE-ENY-01M-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA390595

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