Predictive Modelling of Small Crack Formation in Superalloys

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The urgent need for high efficiency engines to produce greener energy drives the increase in operating temperature of turbine engines. Consequently, components that were once considered 'low risk' are susceptible to high-temperature corrosion and fatigue damage. Understanding how cracks form, grow and arrests them in these environments is critical to enable greener engines. Current life prognosis is based on empirical crack incubation and growth data. This approach requires years of data and does not aid in designing new components. Hence, there is a need to advance life predictions with mechanistic understanding. To mitigate prognosis uncertainty, researchers developed models informed with physical mechanisms at many length scales. The value added relies on the lower dependence of damage mechanisms on loading conditions at smaller scales. Hence, advances in failure prognosis depends on more advanced models that are informed by independent multiscale data.