World-First Supercomputer Discovered This Invisible Flaw In All Jet Engines

The Frontier supercomputer, located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has discovered a common flaw in jet engine turbine blades through high-resolution simulations. This surface roughness negatively impacts fuel efficiency and generates more heat, potentially shortening blade life and increasing maintenance needs. The supercomputer's findings are being used to improve future jet engine designs and focus on blade cooling. The Frontier supercomputer, part of the US Department of Energy's INCITE program, performs one quintillion calculations per second, making it the most powerful supercomputer to date, though it also consumes significant energy and produces substantial heat.