Article

Using the Frontier supercomputer, the first exascale system for open science, researchers from the University of Melbourne, GE Aerospace, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory investigated how microscopic wear on turbine blades affects jet engine efficiency. The study revealed that surface roughness from erosion and oxidation increases fuel burn and shortens engine lifespan.

Traditional modeling struggled with the scale of defects, but Frontier enabled ultra high fidelity simulations with billions of grid points. Results showed that small surface imperfections lead to significant aerodynamic losses and higher heat transfer, causing hotter components and more frequent maintenance. GE Aerospace is applying these findings to enhance turbine design and performance, aiming to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.