Second phase of GE9X CMC component testing in GEnx demonstrator engine is complete

The second phase of GE9X CMC (ceramic matrix composite) component testing in a GEnx demonstrator engine is complete. The demonstrator engine accumulated 1,800 cycles in the latest round of tests, which included exposure to harsh environmental conditions of dust and debris. The level of debris exposure was equivalent to about 3,000 take-off and landing operation cycles. The GE9X engine will power Boeing’s 777X aircraft. According to Ted Ingling, GE9X general manager at GE Aviation, “Dust and debris accumulate on the external surface of the airfoils can degrade the insulation coatings. They can also collect on internal cooling circuits of the blades and nozzles and degrade the cooling effectiveness. Both factors can lead to durability issues. These demonstrator tests allow us to get an accelerated understanding of how our new designs and materials perform in all environments, including those prone to high airborne debris.” For the second round of tests, the GEnx demonstrator engine utilized the same CMC combustor liners, HPT stage 1 shrouds and HPT stage 2 nozzles from the first round of tests in September 2015 along with the addition of the HPT stage 1 CMC nozzles.