This paper presents a detailed computational analysis of an imitation model of compressor disk for an aero gas turbine engine (GTE), investigating the influence of three geometric parameters, flank angle, flank height, and neck width on its structural...
This paper presents a detailed computational analysis of an imitation model of compressor disk for an aero gas turbine engine (GTE), investigating the influence of three geometric parameters, flank angle, flank height, and neck width on its structural integrity. The study utilizes a 3D finite element method (FEM), under uniaxial loading conditions to simulate the operational stress distribution of the original compressor disk. The methodology included both static stress analysis and an iterative fatigue crack growth (FCG), automated via Python integrated module that utilizes three primary software tools: ANSYS Mechanical, APDL, and FRANC3D.
The results indicate that flank angle is the dominant geometric factor that significantly affects the maximum Von Mises stress value and its corresponding critical region in the disk, whereas variations in flank height and neck width are insufficient to cause change. The contrast between two crack initiation sites – fillet radius of dovetail base groove and contact edge between disk and blade – revealed distinct FCG behaviors driven by different fatigue failure mechanisms. Low-cycle fatigue (LCF) at the fillet radius resulted in Mode I dominant crack growth, while crack initiation at the contact surface led to shear dominant growth due to fretting fatigue. This study establishes the geometric sensitivity of dovetail, concluding that flank angle governs the failure mechanism transition.