Failure Analysis of Gas Turbine Engine Fuel Nozzle Heat Shields

Abstract

New type 321 corrosion-resistant steel heat shields were cracking during welding operations. A failure analysis was performed. The cause was found to be chloride induced stress-corrosion cracking. Packaging was suspected and confirmed to be the cause of the chloride contamination. A contributing factor was the length of time spent in the packaging, 21 years.