Oil debris monitoring in aero engines

In a gas turbine engine, small particles or “chips” are generated at the point of wear, serving as an advanced warning that catastrophic failure will occur if the wear is not addressed. Health monitoring systems, such as oil debris monitoring, are used to find these small particles so that the wear can be resolved before it's too late.

The aviation gas turbine engine has evolved considerably since its inception in the 1920s. From improved materials to withstand higher turbine inlet temperatures to lightweight bladed compressor disks, the gas turbine engine of today is more complex than ever before. It is this increased complexity that has warranted special means to ensure that high levels of reliability and performance are maintained throughout the life of the engine.

The life of a gas turbine engine is typically limited by that of its rotating components that undergo wear due to friction, vibration, and mechanical loads. The lifespan of these components may be represented by a “bath-tub” curve (see Figure 1).