Failure analysis of a set of compressor blades

This paper analyses the root causes of the failure of a set of blades belonging to the high pressure compressor of an aircraft engine. All these blades were manufactured using a 718 nickel base alloy. The performed study consisted in a fractographic analysis by scanning electron microscopy and a microstructural study using both scanning and optical microscopy. Phases which were present in the fracture surfaces were identified by means of X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry. As a result of this labour the failure was attributed to the impact of sand and stones; that is the so-called foreign object damage mechanism.