Innovations in Blade Materials and Cooling Systems: A Technical Review

Aero-engines and industrial gas turbines are critical technologies that reflect a nation’s industrial technological advancement. The continuous rise in turbine inlet temperature (TIT) has significantly enhanced their performance but also imposes extreme thermal stresses on turbine blade. This review explores the evolution of air-cooled turbine blades, emphasizing the growing role of advanced materials and innovative cooling strategies. It also discusses key design parameters and the fundamental principles of computational fluid dynamics (CFD in optimizing thermal management. Finally, the study outlines future research directions, highlighting potential breakthroughs to address the aerothermal and mechanical challenges of next-generation gas turbines.