Why Rotor Blade Failures in Steam Turbines Demand Attention: A Data-Driven Perspective

Steam turbines are the workhorses of thermonuclear power plants and large ships, but their efficiency and safety hinge on one critical component: the rotor blade. Last-stage rotor blades (LSRBs) are prone to failure due to prolonged exposure to high-speed wet steam (HSWs). These failures aren’t just costly—they can lead to catastrophic accidents, with fractured blades causing cascading damage to other components running at high speeds.

• Khalid Farooq Khattak
• Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited