A virtual laboratory for education on gas turbine principles and operation

A software package created for educating engineering students on the principles of gas turbines is presented. It starts from the presentation of basic material on the principles of gas turbine components operation (turbomachinery, combustion chambers, inlets, exhausts). The usual textbook material is supported by audiovisual material that enhances the student's ability to assimilate the principles taught. Computational tools are included, allowing the execution of design studies as well as performance simulations, for a wide range of gas turbine types. Both aircraft and land based gas turbines are covered. A user friendly interface allows the execution of calculations, whose results can be presented in a variety of formats, with the help of a flexible graphical user interface. A number of specific engines have been chosen to be represented, one of the reasons for this choice being that the package in its current form is primarily intended for use by air force and naval academy students, expected to come in contact with the specific engines employed by the corresponding organizations. Finally, a number of laboratory exercises are included. The exercises are performed in a way that is a reproduction of actual laboratory tests. The software employs audio-visual effects, including videos and other animations, to support the instruction of gas turbine principles, and is implemented in a classroom specifically designed for this purpose. The audiovisual effects are employed to transfer the actual physical reality into the classroom, creating thus the virtual environment.