Environmental performance testing system for thermostructure materials applied in aeroengines

The conventional ultimate performance test by applying a component in its true application (i.e., in an engine) is often very expensive and impractical when dealing with developmental materials. Simpler, less expensive, and more practical test methods must be utilized. The present work aims toward the applications of an innovative methodology for testing environmental performance of advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) in the presence of combined mechanical, thermal, and environmental applied conditions. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of how a composite might perform in certain application environments, a newly developed environmental performance testing system, which is able to provide the fundamental damage information of the composites in simulating service environments including variables such as temperature, mechanical and thermal stresses, flowing oxidizing gases and high gas pressure, is proposed. The system comprises of two subsystems: (1) equivalent experimental simulating subsystem, and (2) wind tunnel experimental simulating subsystem. The evolution mechanisms of the composites properties and microstructures can be achieved by the former, and then be validated and modified by the latter. Various loading (e.g. fatigue, creep), various atmospheres (e.g. argon, oxygen, water vapor, wet oxygen and molten salt vapor) and various temperature conditions (e.g. constant or cyclic temperatures) can be conducted on the system. Some typical experimental results are presented in this paper. Large quantities of tests have demonstrated the extraordinary stability and reliability of the system.