Integral Strain Indicators for Turbine Blade Creep Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Components in turbomachines, particularly turbine blades, suffer from creep deformation due to high temperatures and stresses, leading to elongation and potential interference with stationary structures, causing vibrations and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

Integration of fiducial markers on the component surface, formed from a compatible material, to measure strain, creep, and deformation using a three-dimensional data acquisition system, allowing for accurate strain analysis and monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fiducial markers are added to the component surface for strain measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrain measurement precisionVSAvoidcomponent structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fiducial markers are integrated directly into the component surface during manufacturing, merging the measurement reference features with the component structure itself rather than adding separate measurement devices. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the embedded markers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fiducial markers are prepared and positioned on the component surface before the component undergoes service conditions and deformation. This preliminary placement ensures that the markers serve as stable reference points for subsequent strain measurements, enabling precise detection of deformation without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If material is deposited on the component surface to form markers, then manufacturing precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarker placement precisionVSAvoidcomponent manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process utilizes controlled deposition of material to form markers with precise dimensional parameters and positions. By controlling deposition parameters such as material volume, placement location, and layer thickness, high precision markers are created through a standardized manufacturing step that integrates well with existing component fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3351897B1Method of monitoring a component with an integral strain indicator
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP3351897B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3351897B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3351897B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method (200) of making a component (10) with an integral strain indicator includes forming (210) the component (10) with an internal volume (15) formed from a first material and an outer surface (14) and directly depositing a plurality of fiducial markers (12) on a portion of the outer surface (14). The fiducial markers (12) are formed from a second material that is compatible with the first material and the portion of the outer surface (14) defines an analysis region (18) on the outer surface (14) of the component (10). The analysis region (18) defines a gage length (G), and each fiducial marker (12) of the plurality of fiducial markers (12) has a maximum diameter (MD) of between one-tenth and one-twentieth of the gage length (G).