An approach of determining aero-engine life-limited parts

Abstract

In this paper, an approach has been developed to determine the list of aero-engine life-limited parts (ELLPs) precisely with different number and types for service management plan. The recent researches about the ELLPs have been investigated including airworthiness regulations and life management plan based on the airworthiness requirements and advisory circulars related to the ELLPs from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Take a certain type of fan rotor as an example, the flowchart and approach to determine the ELLPs have been established through three steps. Each part of the fan rotor has been checked and listed in the collection of the ELLPs, in which the primary failure level is the catastrophic and the failure mechanism corresponds to the low cycle fatigue (LCF). The list of ELLPs in this type of aero-engine has been obtained using the present approach. This approach provides the guidance to enhance the safe life through maintaining the attributes required for engineering plan by determining the life-limited parts with other types of aero engine.