STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL ANALYSIS OF A COMPOSITE TURBOCHARGER TURBINE WHEEL FOR HIGH-SPEED APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Turbochargers play a critical role in enhancing the performance and efficiency of internal combustion engines by increasing the mass flow rate of air supplied to the combustion chamber. The turbine wheel is one of the most important components of a turbocharger, operating under extreme thermal and centrifugal loading conditions. Conventional turbine wheels are typically manufactured from nickel-based superalloys, which offer excellent hightemperature strength but contribute significantly to the overall weight of the turbocharger system. To address these limitations, the present study investigates the feasibility of using advanced composite materials for turbocharger turbine wheel applications. The turbine wheel was designed using computeraided design (CAD) tools and analyzed through finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate its structural and thermal behavior under high-speed operating conditions. Composite materials with high strength-to-weight ratios and superior thermal resistance were considered as alternatives to conventional metallic materials. Structural analysis was performed to determine deformation, von Mises stress distribution, and factor of safety under centrifugal forces generated at elevated rotational speeds. Thermal analysis was conducted to assess temperature distribution and heat transfer characteristics during turbine operation. The simulation results indicate that the composite turbine wheel exhibits significant weight reduction while maintaining acceptable stress and deformation levels within permissible limits. Thermal analysis demonstrates improved resistance to thermal loading and reduced heat conduction compared to traditional metallic counterparts. The findings suggest that composite materials can effectively enhance the performance, durability, and efficiency of turbocharger turbine wheels used in high-speed applications. The proposed design offers potential benefits in terms of reduced inertia, improved transient response, and increased fuel efficiency, making it a promising solution for next-generation automotive and aerospace turbocharging systems. Keywords: Turbocharger Turbine Wheel, Composite Materials, Finite Element Analysis, Structural Analysis, Thermal Analysis, HighSpeed Applications, Weight Reduction, CAD Modeling, Thermal Resistance, Automotive Engineering.