When turbine wheel damage occurs, which engine indication is most likely to rise?

When turbine wheel damage occurs, the most likely indication to rise is the Turbine Inlet Temperature (TIT). This is because damage to the turbine wheel can disrupt the flow of exhaust gases through the turbine section of the engine. When the turbine is not functioning effectively due to damage, it can lead to an inefficient conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy. Consequently, this inefficiency causes the exhaust gases to have a higher temperature when they enter the turbine, resulting in an increase in the TIT.

TIT is a critical parameter in jet engine performance, indicating how well the engine is operating and providing essential data for engine health monitoring. An increase in TIT often suggests that the engine is working harder to maintain performance, which is typically a direct consequence of turbine damage affecting the overall efficiency of the engine.

The other parameters, while important, do not directly correlate with turbine wheel damage in the same way. For instance, compressor pressure may remain stable or even decrease due to changes in airflow characteristics, and oil temperature or fuel flow might not reflect turbine wheel integrity as directly as TIT does. Thus, monitoring TIT becomes crucial when assessing the impact of turbine wheel conditions on engine performance.