PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF GAS TURBINE BLADES EMPLOYING HIGH-TEMPERATURE ALLOYS AND CERAMIC PROTECTIVE COATINGS

Gas turbine blades operate in extremely severe environments, often exposed to high temperatures, pressure loads, and corrosive gases. These conditions demand the use of advanced materials and protective technologies to ensure blade integrity, efficiency, and long service life. This study presents a comprehensive computational investigation into the fluid flow and thermal behaviour of gas turbine blades fabricated from high-temperature superalloys and enhanced with ceramic-based thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the research models the heat transfer and aerodynamic performance of a turbine blade subjected to realistic operating conditions. The blade geometry is designed with detailed internal cooling channels and external surfaces coated with a layer of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), which serves to insulate the underlying metallic structure from the extreme gas temperatures.