The results of this proposal and potential products will be of interest to the commercial gas turbine industry in general. This includes large aircraft engine companies such as General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. This is especially true for smaller companies in the private sector that cannot afford a research effort of this magnitude. Honeywell has expressed specific interest in this work and has provided a letter to this effect, which is provided with this proposal. The methodologies (and supporting analysis/design tools) as well as improved PM disk designs are both considered products of this effort. The primary market for the compressor and turbine disk designs includes gas turbine engines for use in military and civilian aircraft applications. Gas turbine engines are also used for ground power applications. These projects identify advanced materials as key technologies for future power generation systems based on gas turbine engines.
The long-term goal of this research effort is to improve the life and durability of turbomachinery disk components made from advanced powder metal alloys. These improvements are critical to the success NASA programs such as Environmentally Responsible Aircraft (ERA) program. This program has the goal demonstrating technologies that can reduce aircraft emissions and fuel consumption. This requires that components operate at increased temperatures and/or with reduced cooling air. Advanced metal alloy and composite materials can operate under these conditions, but durability and life must be assured. One of ERAs approaches to accomplishing these goals is to focus on "advanced multi-discipline based concepts and technologies," which is exactly the approach of this proposal. Structural, thermal, materials, reliability and systems engineering expertise must be brought together to achieve the objectives in Phase I
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