Target Size Effects on Foreign Object Damage in Gas-Turbine Grade Silicon Nitrides by Ceramic Ball Projectiles

Abstract

Foreign object damage (FOD) phenomena of two gas-turbine grade silicon nitrides (AS800 and SN282) were determined at ambient temperature using impact velocities ranging from 25 to 150 m/s by 1.59-mm diameter silicon nitride ball projectiles. Targets in flexure bar configuration with two different thicknesses of 1 and 2 mm were impacted under a fully supported condition. The degree of impact damage as well as of post-impact strength degradation increased with increasing impact velocity, increased with decreasing target thickness, and was greater in SN282 than in AS800 silicon nitride regardless of target thickness. The critical impact velocity, in which targets fractured catastrophically, decreased monotonically with decreasing target thickness and was lower in SN282 than in AS800. Backside cracking was dominant in both AS800 and SN282 target specimens with a thickness of 1 mm, occurring from an impact velocity of 50 m/s. A backside cracking analysis based on the elastic foundation approach was made as a function of target thickness. Overall, FOD by ceramic projectiles was significantly greater than that by hardened metallic counterparts.