Methods for applying passive strain indicators to components

• US 10,451,499 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Digital Holdings LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Byers, Jason Anton, Germann, Bryan J., Miller, Daniel Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US15/480,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20180292275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/04 responsive to load
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/00 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, other groups
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/30 Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/80 Devices generating input signals, e.g. transducers, sensors, cameras or strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. optical strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/247 using distributed sensing elements, e.g. microcapsules along a single optical fibre G01L1/242
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0016 of aircraft wings or blades

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for applying passive strain indicators to a component includes creating a plurality of surface curves and a plurality of data points on each of the plurality of surface curves, the plurality of surface curves and the plurality of data points defining the exterior surface of the component. The method further includes receiving data indicative of a user input selection of a selected surface curve of the plurality of surface curves, a selected data point of the plurality of data points on the selected surface curve, and a selected rotation angle. The method further includes determining an output dimension, location, and orientation of a passive strain indicator. The method further includes providing one or more control signals to a passive strain indicator application system to cause the system to apply the passive strain indicator having the output dimension, location, and orientation to the component.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for applying passive strain indicators to a component, the component comprising an exterior surface, the method comprising:

creating, by one or more computing devices, a plurality of surface curves and a plurality of data points on each of the plurality of surface curves, the plurality of surface curves and the plurality of data points defining the exterior surface of the component;

receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a user input selection of a selected surface curve of the plurality of surface curves, a selected data point of the plurality of data points on the selected surface curve, and a selected rotation angle;

determining, by the one or more computing devices and in response to the selected surface curve, selected data point, and selected rotation angle, an output dimension, location, and orientation of a passive strain indicator; and

providing, by the one or more computing devices, one or more control signals to a passive strain indicator application system to cause the system to apply the passive strain indicator having the output dimension, location, and orientation to the component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step is further performed in response to one or more predetermined passive strain indicator characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, by the one or more computing devices, a stress analysis of the component, wherein the stress analysis provides a life-limiting location on the exterior surface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the passive strain indicator is located within the life-limiting location.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected surface curve extends through the life-limiting location and the selected data point is located within the life-limiting location.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the stress analysis is a finite element analysis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the passive strain indicator comprises an analysis region, a locator region, and a serial region.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is a turbine component.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the passive strain indicator is formed from a ceramic.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the passive strain indicator application system comprises a robotic arm and a printer.

11. A computer-implemented method for applying passive strain indicators to a component, the component comprising an exterior surface, the method comprising:

performing, by one or more computing devices, a stress analysis of the component, wherein the stress analysis provides a life-limiting location on the exterior surface;

creating, by the one or more computing devices, a plurality of surface curves and a plurality of data points on each of the plurality of surface curves, the plurality of surface curves and the plurality of data points defining the exterior surface of the component;

receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a user input selection of a selected surface curve of the plurality of surface curves, a selected data point of the plurality of data points on the selected surface curve, and a selected rotation angle;

determining, by the one or more computing devices and in response to the selected surface curve, selected data point, and selected rotation angle, an output dimension, location, and orientation of a passive strain indicator, wherein the passive strain indicator is located within the life-limiting location; and

providing, by the one or more computing devices, one or more control signals to a passive strain indicator application system to cause the system to apply the passive strain indicator having the output dimension, location, and orientation to the component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step is further performed in response to one or more predetermined passive strain indicator characteristics.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the selected surface curve extends through the life-limiting location and the selected data point is located within the life-limiting location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the stress analysis is a finite element analysis.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the passive strain indicator comprises an analysis region, a locator region, and a serial region.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the component is a turbine component.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the passive strain indicator is formed from a ceramic.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the passive strain indicator application system comprises a robotic arm and a printer.