Study of erosion mechanisms in aerospace materials using advanced characterization methods

PROJECT COST:

1 365 057 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

613 917 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

Erosion resistance is critical to ensure reliable and optimal performance of different aircraft engine components. Therefore, the aerospace industry relies not only on the deposition of erosion-resistant coatings, but also on improving the fundamental understanding of their behavior under erosion conditions.

This project therefore aims to: (i) use machine learning to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the erosion literature in order to establish links between material properties, erosion conditions, and the resulting erosion rates; (ii) develop an in situ system to measure material volume loss during erosion tests in real time, thereby improving the understanding of the overall phenomenon; and (iii) determine the relationship between the dynamic material removal process during erosion and instrumented indentation, as well as assess the impact of microstructure (grain size and orientation, density, etc.) on erosion.

As the aerospace sector continues to evolve toward lighter and more complex alloys and composite materials, the lack of predictability in how these materials will respond to erosion is becoming an increasingly serious issue.

The goal of Prof. Jolanta Klemberg-Sapieha is to significantly extend the service life and improve the performance of aircraft engine components, while enabling a substantial reduction in maintenance and operating costs and improving safety, while also recognizing the economic and technological importance of the aerospace sector for the Montreal region, Quebec, and Canada as a whole.

This project will also support the training of eight students (three undergraduate interns, three doctoral students, and two postdoctoral fellows).

For the industrial partners, the success of this project will greatly contribute to extending the service life and improving the performance of aircraft engine components, while enabling a significant reduction in maintenance and operating costs, as well as improved safety for the Montreal region, Quebec, and the whole of the country.