Round and Round:

The design and operation of gas turbines in aircraft applications provides tough engineering challenges in today’s market. With the rise of fuel prices, new product development has focused on maximizing thermal efficiency, increasing time-on-wing, and reducing weight. A major backbone of gas turbines are rotating parts, which are regularly exposed to high stresses, steep thermal gradients, and corrosive environments. Due to the high energy levels, detailed attention is paid to these components by manufacturers, with regulatory bodies requiring life limits to be established for the majority of these parts. Understanding basic rotating part design provides a sturdy framework for new designs and requirements of new products introduced to the market.