Master Thesis Fracture Mechanics in Gas Turbine Blades

Master Thesis Fracture Mechanics in Gas Turbine Blades

A Snapshot of Your Day

Gas turbines supplying complementary power to solar and wind, will experience frequent starts and stops, which implies frequent thermomechanical fatigue cycling of critical components such as turbine blades. Since the blades are having to run on their absolute limit it is necessary to rely on a damage tolerant design for fatigue. Gas turbine blades are both complexly loaded and very geometrically challenging, often 3D fracture mechanics together with finite element simulations is used to predict the crack propagation life. This implies all manner of simulation difficulties. One such difficulty is how to handle a crack growing close to and in contact regions.

You will investigate how to handle transient crack propagation in the blade root region and write a guideline that will be used in future blade design. This is done by performing 3D fracture mechanics calculations on blade roots and compare against suitable elementary cases. Some of the questions you will answer are: how are the crack propagation influenced by the contact definition, what simplifications can be made without deviating too far from the full solution, what parameters should be used when evaluating transient crack propagation?

 

How You’ll Make an Impact

You will perform fracture mechanics analysis on gas turbine blades. This will include:
* Nonlinear and linear finite element analysis
* Fracture mechanics in both 3D and 2D
* Establish a guideline for future calculations

 

What You Bring 
* Knowledge at MSc level with focus in mechanical engineering and solid mechanics.
* Good knowledge about solid mechanics, fracture mechanics and finite element simulations.
* Is structured and can communicate well.
* Can find own ways and solutions to challenges and problems.

 

About the Team

The turbine and compressor mechanical integrity group have many talented and highly educated engineers with different backgrounds and responsibilities. We strive to support each other and build a strong technical knowledge within the team.

Our Gas Services division offers Low-emission power generation through service and decarbonization. Zero or low emission power generation and all gas turbines under one roof, steam turbines and generators. Decarbonization opportunities through service offerings, modernization, and digitalization of the fleet.  

Check out this page to learn more about our Gas Service business https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/offerings/power-generation.html 

We can offer you employment benefits such as: reduction of working hours, advance vacation, health care allowance and an eventual possibility to a flexible working place. 

What’s it like to work at Siemens Energy? Take a look: https://bit.ly/3hD9pvK  

  

Who is Siemens Energy? 

At Siemens Energy, we are more than just an energy technology company. We meet the growing energy demand across 90+ countries while ensuring our climate is protected. With more than 94,000 dedicated employees, we not only generate electricity for over 16% of the global community, but we’re also using our technology to help protect people and the environment. 

Our global team is committed to making sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy a reality by pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We uphold a 150-year legacy of innovation that encourages our search for people who will support our focus on decarbonization, new technologies, and energy transformation. 

Our Commitment to Diversity

Lucky for us, we are not all the same. Through diversity, we generate power. We ru...