Data Infrastructure Developed for PW-8: Nickel Base Superalloy Residual Stress Foundational Engineering Problem

Abstract

The PW-8: Nickel Base Superalloy Residual Stress Foundational Engineering Problem (FEP) is a program funded by the United States Air Force through the Metals Affordability Initiative (MAI) to address bulk residual stresses in Nickel-base superalloy engine disk components. These stresses can be induced during various manufacturing stages such as the heat treatment process or the forging process. Bulk residual stresses can be a problem and result in component distortion during the machining process and/or during elevated temperature service. Bulk residual stresses in aeroengine disks components are considered a Foundational Engineering Problem that affects both suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and is an issue that must be addressed with a cross-functional team. The FEP addresses this problem by developing the infrastructure and tools needed to predict and incorporate bulk residual stress into the design and development of a turbine disk. In doing so, the FEP answers the challenge given in a 2008 report issued by the National Research Council in which the authors commented that addressing FEPs are an essential means to help establish the infrastructure needed to make Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) a reality. This paper will report on a key aspect of the ICME infrastructure; namely the infrastructure needed to manage physical and model data. In addition to discussing the infrastructure developed, this paper will document the lessons learned which can be applied to the ICME community as a whole.