A novel system for performing in-situ micro-machining of aero-engines for repair applications is proposed in this paper. Using Pulsed Laser Ablation (PLA) as material removal technique, surface cracks caused by foreign objects colliding with airfoils are removed by performing a layer-by-layer micro-machining in the area surrounding the damaged zone. Compared to conventional repair performed by micro-grinding, our invasive PLA system demonstrates a similar level of performance, evaluated from the point of view of fatigue strength in the high cycle (>107) regime. The follow-up fractographic and metallurgical analysis, indicated that although some microstructural characteristics are different between the repair methods, the incurred surface damage is limited in magnitude to a thin surface layer (<30 μm) and the influence on fatigue life is comparable. In the last section, a novel prototype system is presented which allows performing the PLA repair in-situ by use of a miniaturized laser scanning head coupled with a flexible mechanical deployment arm. The system has been successfully tested inside a Roll-Royce Trent jet engine; effectively this proves the possibility of performing in-situ laser micro-machining inside complex mechanical systems such as aero-engines, without the need for complex/expensive disassembly.

The properties of CoNiCrAlY and ∼7–8%YSZ layers, used as thermal barrier coatings (TBC) to protect hot gas paths of power generation and aerospace gas turbines, that have been deposited through the Combustion Flame Spray (CFS) process, are assessed and compared to coatings of the same materials deposited through Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS). Fuel-to-oxygen equivalence ratio, combustion and carrier gases flows, torch standoff distance and powder feed rate values have been varied during the CFS tests in order to assess their effect on microstructural characteristics, i.e. thickness, total porosity, oxide level and microhardness. Results show that, in CFS-deposited coatings, although a higher content of oxide strings and porosity is observed compared to APS, also comparable phase transformations and a higher thermal cyclic lifetime can be achieved with an appropriate tuning of the deposition parameters. Thus, the study demonstrates the excellent capability of the CFS process in depositing thermal barrier coating systems, providing a viable alternative deposition technology for this class of materials at significant hardware simplicity. As the CFS setup has a simple design, this research stimulates a miniaturization concept of the combustion flame spray torch for allowing its deployment into highly restricted workspaces.

The maintenance works (e.g. inspection, repair) of aero-engines while still attached on the airframes requires a desirable approach since this can significantly shorten both the time and cost of such interventions as the aerospace industry commonly operates based on the generic concept “power by the hour”. However, navigating and performing a multi-axis movement of an end-effector in a very constrained environment such as gas turbine engines is a challenging task. This paper reports on the development of a highly flexible slender (i.e. low diameter-to-length ratios) continuum robot of 25 degrees of freedom capable to uncoil from a drum to provide the feeding motion needed to navigate into crammed environments and then perform, with its last 6 DoF, complex trajectories with a camera equipped machining end-effector for allowing in-situ interventions at a low-pressure compressor of a gas turbine engine. This continuum robot is a compact system and presents a set of innovative mechatronics solutions such as: (i) twin commanding cables to minimise the number of actuators; (ii) twin compliant joints to enable large bending angles (±90°) arranged on a tapered structure (start from 40mm to 13mm at its end); (iii) feeding motion provided by a rotating drum for coiling/uncoiling the continuum robot; (iv) machining end-effector equipped with vision system. To be able to achieve the in-situ maintenance tasks, a set of innovative control algorithms to enable the navigation and end-effector path generation have been developed and implemented. Finally, the continuum robot has been tested both for navigation and movement of the end-effector against a specified target within a gas turbine engine mock-up proving that: (i) max. deviations in navigation from the desired path (1000mm length with bends between 45° and 90°) are ±10mm; (ii) max. errors in positioning the end-effector against a target situated at the end of navigation path is 1mm. Thus, this paper presents a compact continuum robot that could be considered as a step forward in providing aero-engine manufacturers with a solution to perform complex tasks in an invasive manner.

An imaging system capable of detecting alumina on turbine blades by acquiring LED-induced fluorescence images has been developed. Acquiring fluorescence images at adjacent spectral bands allows the system to distinguish alumina from fluorescent surface contaminants. Repair and overhaul processes require that alumina is entirely removed from the blades by grit blasting and chemical stripping. The capability of the system to detect alumina has been investigated with two series of turbine blades provided by Rolls-Royce plc. The results illustrate that the system provides a superior inspection method to visual assessment when ascertaining whether alumina is present on turbine blades during repair and overhaul processes.

The generation of micro-features in a predictable and repeatable manner by use of pulsed laser ablation requires an understanding of the temporal and energetic distributions of the laser beam upon the workpiece surface. Modelling the response of the material to known energetic and kinematic parameters of the pulsed laser ablation process can be carried out in a discretised time-based approach, allowing the workpiece topography to be simulated mathematically to reflect a real-life process. Considerations of the antecedent workpiece surface texture such as increases in irradiated area due to the surface gradient, and increases in laser spot size due to beam divergence throughout the elevation of the workpiece are used to predict energy densities and hence the resultant ablated depth and texture of the targeted surfaces. A fully calibrated Yb:YAG pulsed fibre laser (SPI G3.0 RM) was used to validate the model on three materials, highlighting the models strengths for different material types. It was found that Ni based workpieces presented redeposition phenomena under these laser ablation conditions. To analyse the model without redeposition, validations trials on materials that do not present such side effects, e.g. diamond, were carried out and differences were found to be up to 9.39%. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Conduction laser welding involves initiating a melt pool by exposure to high power laser induced light and controlled thermal conduction. Existing welding techniques generally provide enough energy to join the component but have no real control over the melt pool. This process can invariably lead to overheating in adjacent areas or even the melt pool itself, often causing unavoidable effects, such as ‘burn through’. The present work presents a procedure in which a desired melt pool shape is conceived, and a bespoke beam irradiance distribution is designed to match. The beam is shaped not by conventional lenses but by a diffractive holographic optical element (DHOE). The DHOE utilises holography to wholly create highly complex three-dimensional energy distributions through constructive and destructive interference. This technique allows novel beam irradiance distributions to be applied to conduction mode laser welding, with the melt pool transverse profile being shaped to a specific design. Holographic conduction laser welding has been shown to be successful and represents a significant step forward in the industry, as demonstrated in this case in both mild and stainless steels. The fusion zone is shown to be particularly influenced by the shape of the illuminating laser beam profile, and many of the welds demonstrate a highly novel weld profile because of this. The use of a bespoke beam irradiance distribution allows control of the heat flow to the workpiece, and this allows greater control over material migration due to surface tension effects. Many of the welds demonstrate unique surface solidification patterns directly linked to the beam profile used. The DHOE also presents a number of additional advantages, such as an increased usable depth of field, allowing for less stringent set-up tolerances. Comprehensive metallography has been performed on samples of these welds through the use of optical microscopy, electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and energy dispersive (X-ray) spectroscopy. These techniques offer in depth analysis of crystal size, shape, orientation and phase. By incorporating DHOEs into a laser welding process, not only does the melt pool shape become controllable, but also the crystal growth is highly influenced. Many of the undesirable attributes of a conventional laser weld are reduced by using a beam distribution created by a DHOE, bringing the microstructure of the weld pool closer to that of the parent material.

Laser ablation is a method of removing relatively small volumes of material from a substrate and this technique is finding a wide range of exploitation avenues in industry; such as large scale paint remover to composite resin removal. It has particular relevance to the aerospace industry due to the precision and speed of the material removal. In order for this technique to be effective, the laser parameters need to be optimised. In this instance, the volume of material removed has been studied using an Nd:YAG Q-Switched pulsed laser. The laser parameters: speed of the laser, intensity, pulse duration, frequency etc were varied to determine the optimum parameters for the removal of approximately 0.1cm3 of material from Ti6Al4V. It was determined that the rate of material removal is dependent on the laser parameter interaction rather than the overall energy of the system. In parallel, the effect of parameters on the surface of the sample were studied and optimum parameters determined for maximum material removal rate with little or no oxidative effects. In addition, the samples have been mechanically tested using High Cycle Fatigue, and found to be favourable compared to more conventional material removal techniques.

This work considers the use of Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) to shape the weld beam and control the microstructure of the weld bead. The beam profiles investigated are a standard Gaussian and an Offset Rugby Post produced by a HOE. Autogenous welds have been produced on plain carbon steel with the introduction of a nickel alloy filler powder, using different energy densities. Cross sections of the welds have been analysed in terms of the weld profile, weld pool shape, HAZ and the extent of the deposit/substrate mixing. Electron BackScatter Diffraction (EBSD) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) has been used to study the microstructures developed. The results have shown that by utilising HOE's the weld pool shape can be modified so that a squarer profile can be obtained. The grain structure within the weld pool can be controlled such that a finer more equiaxed grain structure can be developed when compared with the coarse columnar grains seen with a Gaussian beam with a marked difference in the microstructures in the HAZ.

This research is concerned with autogenous welding of 316L stainless steel and the microstructure generated by such a process. Autogenous welding does not require a filler material and in this case relies on an initial shallow melt phase to maintain a conduction limited weld. Essentially, a high power laser beam traverses the substrate, with the beam shaped by conventional optics, which produces a Gaussian irradiance distribution; or with a diffractive optical element, used to produce a uniform irradiance distribution.Initial results have shown that due to the nature of the heating cycle, complex microstructures are developed. These fine, complicated microstructures cannot be satisfactorily resolved and quantified using standard optical microscopy techniques. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) have been carried out on a number of different microstructures prepared using a range of welding parameters. It is demonstrated that the simultaneous determination of the chemistry and crystallography is a very useful tool for rapid identification of the different phases formed on solidification as a consequence of varying welding procedures.