Wartime experience in the erosive sand and dust of Iraq and Afghanistan still drives improvements in helicopter engine particle separators, barrier filters, and compressor coatings. The payoffs from add-on protection have been significant. Sharp grains of fast-moving sand thin airfoils and ultimately cut-off compressor blades in turboshaft cold sections. A decade of combat in sandy environments
... [Show full abstract] has driven the Department of Defense to focus with industry, NASA, NATO, and international researchers on erosion solutions. Layne Merritt, chief engineer at the Aviation Development Directorate (ADD) of the Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC). GE specifically addresses sand erosion in its next-generation turboshafts. The GE38/T408 engine now in ground tests on the Marine Corps CH-53K heavy lift replacement helicopter has modern aerodynamics for greater efficiency and better cooling, and new materials for added durability.
