A method for calculating the strength of wheel disks of a 10 MW helium gas turbine

To date, the strength calculation and analysis of turbine disks has all along been conducted, using an 'equal-thickness ring method' theory. As such a simplification has not taken into account the effect of rigidity of tenon and mortise boss on force transmission, the disk rim stress values thus obtained may sometimes exhibit a sizable error, making it impossible to analyze the stress concentration at the eccentric holes of the disk and at the root of tenon teeth. However, relatively accurate stress analytic results can now be obtained by establishing a real entity model for a wheel disk of complicated structure through the use of software Pro/E and by performing a finite element analysis and calculation, using software AN-SYS. By adopting the above-mentioned two methods, calculated and analyzed was a gas turbine disk together with several stages of blades. It has been verified that the 'equal-thickness ring method' theory can macroscopically reflect the force-bearing status of the disk. In the meantime, it can be proved that the selection of various parameters for the finite element method is correct, thus providing a technical reference for the strength analysis of other structures of a similar nature.