Structural Integrity Assessment of the GT Actuation System
The project involved a comprehensive structural assessment of the Inlet Guide Vane (IGV) actuation system in response to an increased actuator force.
- Structural integrity assessments for the actuator ring, bearing pedestal, turnbuckles, lever arms, and mechanical stop
- Fatigue analysis of connection bolts, including HCF evaluation with reduced safety factors and sensitivity studies on mean stress vs. amplitude stress distribution
- Local stress checks for bolted joints and critical notches, sub-modelling
- Elastic–plastic buckling analysis of the pushrod using detailed FE models
- Bearing stress evaluation between contacting parts, including roller-pin and actuator ring
- Comparative check against baseline design and materials, identifying limitations in the current configuration due to higher loads and reduced material strength
- Design optimizations were proposed for the most critical locations
Fabrika Brendov