Erosion of Dust-Filtered Helicopter Turbine Engines Part I: Basic Theoretical Considerations

Abstract

A theoretical model has been developed for predicting the effects of the erosion of helicopter engines and their performance as a result of ingesting sparse dust concentrations. In such concentrations particle-on-particle interactions are negligible, and most particles have diameters less than 100 /um. These dust distributions may be found in engines fitted with filters comprised of banks of centrifugal separators. The model includes the effects of particle size distribution, particle velocity, and dust concentration.