SBIR-STTR Award

Probabilistic/Reliability Software Tool for Ceramic Matrix Composite/Environmental Barrier Coating Interface Modeling
Award last edited on: 3/12/2021

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NASA : GRC
Total Award Amount
$853,233
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
A1.07
Principal Investigator
Vinod K Nagpal

Company Information

N&R Engineering Management & Services Corporation (AKA: N&R Engineering Mnagement Support Services)

6659 Pearl Road Suite 201
Parma Heights, OH 44130
   (440) 845-7020
   vnagpal@nrengineering.com
   www.nrengineering.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 07
County: Cuyahoga

Phase I

Contract Number: 80NSSC19C0263
Start Date: 8/19/2019    Completed: 2/18/2020
Phase I year
2019
Phase I Amount
$124,322
One potential way to achieve N+3 goals is the introduction of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials into turbine engines. The introduction of CMC vanes and/or blades into turbine engines lead to gains in specific fuel consumption (SFC) by allowing higher operating temperatures, reductions in required cooling, and reductions in vehicle weight. Thermal barrier and environmental barrier coatings (TBCs and EBCs) will play a crucial role in future advanced gas turbine engines because of their ability to significantly extend the temperature capability of the CMC engine components in harsh combustion environments. Due to the inherent scatter in both EBCs and CMCs, one needs to analyze the CMC/EBC interface with a probabilistic methodology. The proposed work will develop a software tool that will facilitate the probabilistic/reliability analysis of the CMC/EBC interface. This software tool will compute input sensitivities of the CMC/EBC interface and propagate uncertainties to component models of turbomachinery parts (vanes/blades) with complex geometries. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are the most promising material system that has the temperature and the structural capability to meet the needs of next generation gas turbine engines that will result in higher efficiency, higher thrust, reduced emissions, and reduced weight. One major barrier to the implementation of CMCs is the lack of environmental durability in the combustion environment. A robust EBC system is an enabling technology for the successful implementation of CMCs in the hot engine sections. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Any applications that use the advanced CMCs such as the land based gas turbines for power generation, require the development of a robust EBC system. The DOD is also researching the CMC/EBC interface.

Phase II

Contract Number: 80NSSC20C0097
Start Date: 6/23/2020    Completed: 6/22/2022
Phase II year
2020
Phase II Amount
$728,911
One potential way to achieve N+3 goals is the introduction of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials into turbine engines. The introduction of CMC vanes and/or blades into turbine engines leads to gains in specific fuel consumption by allowing higher operating temperatures, reductions in required cooling, and reductions in vehicle weight. Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) will play a crucial role in advance gas turbine engines because of their ability to significantly extend the temperature capability of the CMC engine components in harsh combustion environments. Due to the inherent scatter in both EBCs and CMCs, one needs to analyze the CMC/EBC interface with a probabilistic methodology. The proposed work will further develop a software tool that will facilitate the probabilistic/reliability analysis of the CMC/EBC interface, model time-dependent properties such as creep and/or growth of an oxide layer that induces EBC failure, and integrate uncertainty across scales between the interface and component levels in a global/local approach. The software is intended to allow for a more realistic prediction of component life and failure and to aid in design and fabrication of EBC/CMC systems and gas turbine components by government and commercial entities.