An experimental simulation of volcanic ash deposition in gas turbines and implications for jet engine safety

摘要

The protracted grounding of commercial aircraft throughout Europe due to the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption in Iceland April 2010, has alerted the public to the potential dangers of aircraft encounters with ash clouds. One of the most serious issues is the failure of jet turbines due to the deposition of molten silicate ash particles on hot turbine components. In this study, we highlight the influence of volcanic ash composition, crystal/glass ratio and resulting bulk viscosity on the interaction of ash particles with hot turbine blades and vanes.