A study of calculation models for fatigue life prediction : A thesis accomplished together with GKN Aerospace

Abstract: GKN Aerospace in Trollhättan don’t use the latest ANSYS version and need to upgrade their life analysis models. The aim with this thesis is to do a study of the new models and investigate the times required for the calculations. A flight mission were chosen and this mission together with different life analysis models were run in the GKN in house program Life Analysis System. The results were analyzed and depending on the results additional runs were made or the problem were sent to the life management group at GKN Aerospace. Strain levels versus time were also plotted for the runs with the new models to get a perception where any problems occurs. The results from the model 4.10.149 had no variations between equal runs for the high pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine but there was a variation between the results when equal runs was made with the high pressure compressor. The results from model 4.10.157 and 4.10.124 and 4.10.160 and 4.10.173 had variations in the fatigue life for equal runs. The variations can depend on that the calculations converges to different solutions, the reason for this can depend on the non-linear contact elements. The variation in the results between equal runs occurs when the model uses two or more cores. The time required for the calculation becomes faster with the use of more cores. The longest duration had model 4.10.173 because of the many requirements for the calculations in this model. The problem with the variation in the results is sent to ANSYS.