Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Aerospace Systems Engineering
Committee Chair
Phillip Ligrani
Committee Member
Haiyang Hu
Committee Member
John Bennewitz
Research Advisor
Phillip Ligrani
Subject(s)
Turbines--Blades--Design and construction, Turbines--Blades--Aerodynamics, Heat--Transmission, Additive manufacturing
Abstract
As turbine engines are pushed to operate at higher temperatures and pressure ratios, turbine blades are forced to interact with more extreme conditions. Additive manufacturing (AM) offers new possibilities for meeting these challenges by allowing the fabrication of complex shapes from advanced materials like GRX-810, an alloy designed to maintain strength and durability at extreme temperatures. However, one of the trade-offs with AM is its inherently rough surface finish, which can vary depending on how the surface is treated after printing. This thesis investigates how different surface treatment methods, including micromachining and chemical polishing, as well as the untreated, as-built surface condition, influence the aerodynamic and thermal performance of additively manufactured GRX-810 turbine blades. To evaluate these effects, a series of tests were carried out in a transonic linear cascade wind tunnel using instrumented AM blades.
Recommended Citation
Hancock, Mason, "Heat transfer and aerodynamic losses caused by additively manufactured turbine blades enhanced by micro-machining and chemical polishing" (2025). Theses. 805.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/805