Analytical and Experimental Study of Residual Stresses in Thermal Barrier Coatings Deposited on Gas Turbine Blades in Laboratory Dimensions by APS and HVOF Methods to Calculate the Optimal Thickness

Abstract

The constant need to use gas turbines has led to the need to increase turbines' inlet temperature. When the temperature reaches a level higher than the material's tolerance, phenomena such as creep, changes in mechanical properties, oxidation, and corrosion occur at high speeds, which affects the life of the metal material. Nowadays, operation at high temperatures is made possible by proceedings such as cooling and thermal insulation by thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The method of applying thermal barrier coatings on the turbine blade creates residual stresses. In this study, residual stresses in thermal barrier coatings applied by APS and HVOF methods are compared by Tsui–Clyne analytical model and XRD test. The analytical model results are in good agreement with the experimental results (between 2 and 8% error), and the HVOF spray method creates less residual stress than APS. In the end, an optimal thickness for the coating is calculated to minimize residual stress at the interface between the bond coat and top coat layers.