B.J. Wicks, R.A. Antoniou, S.L. Slater and J. Hou
Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Department of Defence, Box 4331 GPO, Melbourne 3001, Australia

Presented at RTO AVT Symposium on "Ageing Mechanisms and Control: Part B - Monitoring and Management of Gas Turbine Fleets for Extended Life and Reduced Costs", Manchester, UK, 8-11 October 2001, and published in RTO-MP-079(I)

Abstract

The use of a safe-life methodology to ascribe a replacement interval to gas turbine engine components has been used extensively for over 40 years. However there are inherent limitations in the methodology, resulting in significant under-utilization of component lives, and an inability to account for rogue flaws and other non-representative factors. This paper will present three examples where the safe-life approach was inadequate in predicting the safe working life of critical engine components. These examples illustrate the complexity of the processes that have to be taken into account to produce realistic life estimates.