GTRE Seeks Retired Defence Personnel's Help in Critical Material Characterization and Testing Activities for Aeroengine Materials

The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a leading laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is tapping into the expertise of retired defence personnel to advance its aeroengine development efforts.

Under the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR)-Technical scheme, GTRE plans to engage retired personnel from the Army, Air Force, or Navy to assist in crucial material characterization and testing activities.

These experienced professionals will play a vital role in evaluating the properties of materials used in aeroengines, such as titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and specialized steels.

Their responsibilities will encompass a range of mechanical tests conducted under diverse operating conditions, utilizing advanced equipment like universal testing machines, creep testing machines, and impact testing machines.

The scope of testing includes:

• Tensile tests: Measuring the material's resistance to being pulled apart.
• Fatigue tests: Evaluating how the material withstands repeated loading and unloading cycles.
• Creep tests: Assessing material behaviour under constant load at high temperatures.
• Stress rupture tests: Determining the time it takes for a material to fail under stress at elevated temperatures.
• Impact tests: Assessing the material's ability to absorb energy during sudden impact.

The retired personnel will be involved in various aspects of the testing process, from ensuring the availability and compatibility of test specimens to setting up and operating the testing machines, accurately recording results, and maintaining meticulous documentation for traceability.

In addition to mechanical testing, these professionals will also assist in heat treatment operations. This involves planning and executing the extraction of samples, operating heat treatment furnaces, performing precise heat treatment procedures, and maintaining comprehensive records.

They will ensure the traceability of specimens throughout the heat treatment process, which is crucial for achieving consistent material properties and ensuring component integrity.

This initiative not only leverages the technical expertise and disciplined approach of retired armed forces personnel but also enhances the efficiency and reliability of material testing and heat treatment activities at GTRE. It represents a strategic step in strengthening India's indigenous aeroengine development capabilities and promoting self-reliance in critical defence technologies.

 

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[sanket]

Great Move something good is going to happen with decipline

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

If only former ex-servicemen were trained in steel, copper, zinc, aluminum, nickel, and gold factories and workshops, skilled as technicians and engineers by foreign OEMs on the latest machines, and then retained for a minimum of 20 to 30 years by GTRE or encouraged to open private companies on retirement.

 

[Torontodude]

The bigger issue is GTRE need significant additions to testing facilities. They have asking for years but they are saddled with old and insufficient testing facilities and equipment. These band aid solutions mean nothing.

 

[swatkats_razor]

You may get better result by involving academia including universities and technocal colleges into the program, like US does and USSR used to do.

It gives you access to a much larger pool of talent and create new impetus for learning at universities.

 

[Sandeep]

The bigger issue is GTRE need significant additions to testing facilities. They have asking for years but they are saddled with old and insufficient testing facilities and equipment. These band aid solutions mean nothing.

They have enough testing facilities. What they lack is knowledge, experience and technical skills.

 

[Sandeep]

It makes sense to use ex servicemen to help so that they can conduct the necessary tests that’s needed and to operate their equipment and machines. They can also offer advice, knowledge, expertise and experience to younger scientists or technicians etc.

 

[Akhil]

They have enough testing facilities.

and yet for so many testing we pick our bag and have to go to Russia or other nations.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

In fact, GTRE should recruit retired top NRI professionals with the expertise in engine development, with long and direct involvement in such projects from companies like GE, Pratt and Whitney, Rolls Royce etc. to assist with and fast track Kaveri engine project and making it the Indian F-414.

THIS SHOULD BE DONE AT WAR FOOTING.

 

[Sandeep]

and yet for so many testing we pick our bag and have to go to Russia or other nations.

We have many test facilities on the ground to assess the performance of it. We only have to go to Russia if we want to perform any high altitude tests or flight testing which rarely happens because the engine would fail to produce enough thrust or have performance issues.

 

[Akhil]

We have many test facilities on the ground to assess the performance of it. We only have to go to Russia if we want to perform any high altitude tests or flight testing which rarely happens because the engine would fail to produce enough thrust or have performance issues.

If it rarely happened then maybe you should check stats how many times for just Tejas we had to go there.
FYI we didn't even have a test bed to test engines which I think strategically one of the most high priority projects in India. Not enough enough tunnels. Not enough hypersonic test facilities. But we are working on it recently.

 

[Sandeep]

If it rarely happened then maybe you should check stats how many times for just Tejas we had to go there.
FYI we didn't even have a test bed to test engines which I think strategically one of the most high priority projects in India. Not enough enough tunnels. Not enough hypersonic test facilities. But we are working on it recently.

If there was no ground test facility then how did they measure the amount of thrust it gave? How did they make increment changes based on the performance it gave with
out testing it on the ground first? They don’t just develop an engine and stick it on a plane and fly above 30000ft straight away. They have to test the engine slowly and increase the altitude based on the performance and endurance that it gives and increase the height in stages like 5000, 10000, 20000 etc.

We only had to go to Russia to test its performance in cold high altitude trials simulation and a flying test bed. Until now the engine kept on failing and its performance was unreliable. With advancements in metallurgy and developing new materials we managed to develop one but its weight is double than what modern day engines weigh and its dry thrust of 50kn is insufficient and we still haven’t developed a 3rd stage to give us wet thrust.