DARWIN-HC: A Tool to Predict Hot Corrosion of Nickel-Based Turbine Disks, Phase II

The initial Non-NASA commercialization strategy is straightforward and significantly bolstered by the strength of the research team, the numerous industry contacts, and the existing DARWIN software infrastructure and support. The commercial product output of the proposed SBIR effort will be DARWIN-HC --- an extension of an existing FAA-sponsored software tool that predicts the probability of fracture of titanium aircraft turbine rotor disks to model and predict the effects of Type II hot corrosion. DARWIN is rapidly gaining acceptance in the aerospace community and DARWIN-HC will further expand the applicability and reach of the DARWIN product line. The most direct commercialization route is via collaboration with the major airframers. Fortunately, Barron Associates has strong, existing working relationships with these companies. As parallel research advances at the major aerospace companies, BAI will pursue commercialization and collaboration opportunities. Although it is difficult to predict the rate of advancement of the ongoing research activities upon which future commercialization may depend, even a relatively small market can play a significant role in our growth as a company. NASA aeronautics defined eight challenge problems for which the Aircraft Aging and Durability (AAD) Project can deliver specific research products to address aeronautics community needs. While the re-search challenges address different aircraft components and specific aging-related issues, the research results will improve the ability to detect, predict, and manage aging hazards. One of these eight challenge problems is "Durability of Engine Superalloy Disks". The research focus is the durability of new disk alloys at higher operating temperatures to enable improved engine efficiency. To improve durability of these new superalloy disks, the issues of microstructural instability, hot corrosion, and fatigue durability must be addressed. Goals include establishment of a long-term database and derivation of analytic models to predict the degradation of new alloys due to microstructural instability and corrosion. The proposed research effort directly addresses these important challenges. More »