Computer model to predict evaporation and deposition of thermal barrier coatings

Electron beam-physical vapour deposition (EB-PVD) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are being investigated in order to be applied to the most demanding of stationary and rotating components. A computer program has been developed aimed at calculating the coating thickness distribution around any component. Engine components were modelled by generating a Stereolithography (STL) file, a common format most CAD packages can export to, and by manipulating them using OpenGL library functions within the computer model. A comparison between the results predicted using the computer model and the ones measured for experimental trial runs was made. Predicted thickness distributions are in good agreement even for the simplified evaporation model.