Page 67 - The Jet Engine

crystal, Examples of these structures are shown in temperatures. An example of a ceramic blade is
fig. 5-12. Each method extends the useful creep life shown in fig. 5-14.
of the blade (fig. 5-13) and in the case of the single BALANCING
crystal blade, the operating temperature can be sub-
stantially increased. 34. The balancing of a turbine is an extremely
important operation in its assembly. In view of the
33. A non-metal based turbine blade can be manu- high rotational speeds and the mass of materials,
any unbalance could seriously affect the rotating
factured from reinforced ceramics. Their initial assembly bearings and engine operation. Balancing
production application is likely to be for small high is effected on a special balancing machine, the
speed turbines which have very high turbine entry principles of which are briefly described in Part 25.

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