Integral Strain Indicators for Turbomachine Creep Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Components in turbomachines, such as turbine blades, experience creep and deformation due to high temperatures and stresses, leading to reduced performance and potential vibrations, as existing methods lack effective monitoring and strain analysis techniques.

Innovation Solution

The method involves forming fiducial markers as depressions on the component's surface, which are used to create three-dimensional models before and after exposure to duty cycles, allowing for comparison and analysis of strain, creep, and stress through measuring the markers' positions and deformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fiducial markers are formed on the component surface, then measurement precision for strain analysis is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrain measurement precisionVSAvoidmarker formation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fiducial markers are formed on the component surface before the component undergoes creep deformation and strain analysis. This preliminary formation ensures that the markers serve as reference points for measuring deformation over time, improving measurement precision without requiring complex real-time modifications during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fiducial markers create a reference copy of the component's initial geometry. By measuring the displacement of these markers before and after creep occurs, the system creates a comparative copy that enables precise strain calculation without requiring complex 3D scanning of the entire component surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If 3D models are created and compared to monitor creep, then reliability of component monitoring is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential fiducial markers from the component surface for monitoring purposes, rather than requiring complex 3D scanning of the entire component. This extraction approach simplifies the monitoring system while maintaining reliable detection of creep deformation through marker displacement measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system segments the component analysis into discrete fiducial marker points rather than requiring full 3D model reconstruction. By focusing on specific marker locations, the system reduces computational complexity and device requirements while maintaining reliable strain measurement through comparison of marker positions before and after creep occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10872176B2Methods of making and monitoring a component with an integral strain indicator

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

Methods of making a component with an integral strain indicator and methods of monitoring such components are provided. A method for making a component includes forming the component, the component including an internal volume and an outer surface. The method further includes forming a plurality of fiducial markers on the component, wherein each of the plurality of fiducial markers is a depression defined in the component. The plurality of fiducial markers are positioned in an analysis region of the component.