Coupled mechanical, metallurgical and FEM based failure investigation of steam turbine blade

• Failure investigation of low pressure steam turbine blade.
• Found root cause of failure, crack initiation location and sequence of failure.
• Use of mechanical, microscopic and FEM tools in failure investigation.
• A rational approach which validates well with actual blade failure.

Steam turbine blades are the critical component in power plant, specifically low pressure blades are generally found to be more susceptible to failure. A mechanical, metallurgical and FEM based coupled methodology is used in the present failure investigation of low pressure steam turbine blade. The results of each investigation of turbine blade failure were then interpreted that leads to find the location of primary failure, sequence of failure and the root cause of its failure. All the three aspects of failure investigation are important in answering the questions raised for the failure and to avoid any future miss-happening.