Scientists have used one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to find out how microscopic damage to turbine blades undermines jet engine performance, fuel efficiency and durability. Over time, turbine blades are exposed to surface roughness due to erosion, oxidation and mechanical wear. The instantaneous wall heat flux on the suction surface of turbine blades in a high-pressure turbine engine. An engineering challenge According to the team, surface roughness was found to accelerate this transition, significantly increasing heat transfer to the blade and raising aerodynamic losses. This includes joint work with NASA on the Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core Project to improve fuel efficiency in commercial engines.