Computational model for predicting coating thickness in electron beam physical vapor deposition

Indraneel Fuke, Vittaldas Prabhu, Seungyup Baek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) is an important process for material coatings such as thermal barrier coatings on turbine blades and titanium carbide coatings on cutting tools. A generic computational model is proposed in this paper for predicting coating thickness on complex workplaces using EB-PVD. The surface of the workplace is represented as a mesh of finite elements, and the accumulated coating thickness on each element is computed based on its location in the vapor plume using a ray-casting algorithm. Analytical models are derived and experimentally tested for workplaces with simple geometry. Coating thicknesses predicted by the computational model agree well with those predicted by analytical models and experimental results. A method is also proposed to characterize and predict process efficiencies and the time required to achieve a minimum coating thickness. The computational model is suitable for workpieces with complex, three-dimensional geometry using any line-of-sight coating process. Applicability of the model is illustrated by simulating turbine blade coating using EB-PVD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-152
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Manufacturing Processes
Volume7
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Strategy and Management
  • Management Science and Operations Research
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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