Optimum design of inhomogeneous rotating discs under secondary creep

Rotating discs commonly used in the aerospace industry often operate under high mechanical stresses due to centrifugal forces, while subject to high temperature gradients. High stresses and temperatures lead to creep in such rotating disc applications. This problem is particularly important in turbine discs under continuous operation. Since such discs are subject to secondary creep effects during most of their useful lives, it is important that they be optimized for minimum weight for the steady-state creep stresses. In this investigation, by considering the variable physical properties of the rotating disc materials under a high temperature gradient, a procedure for weight minimization for the steady-state creep stresses is proposed. The method aims to design the disc thickness profile so as to have minimum weight while the equivalent secondary creep stresses of the rotating disc under a high temperature gradient at all points simultaneously approach but do not exceed an allowable stress. An example is given to illustrate the method.