Seyed M. Hosseini

Pressure-Gradient Turbulent Boundary Layers Developing Around a Wing Section

A direct numerical simulation database of the flow around a NACA4412 wing section at Rec = 400,000 and 5∘ angle of attack (Hosseini et al. Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 61, 117–128, 2016), obtained with the spectral-element code Nek5000, is analyzed. The Clauser pressure-gradient parameter β ranges from ≃ 0 and 85 on the suction side, and from 0 to − 0.25 on the pressure side of the wing. The maximum Re𝜃 and Reτ values are around 2,800 and 373 on the suction side, respectively, whereas on the pressure side these values are 818 and 346. Comparisons between the suction side with zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer data show larger values of the shape factor and a lower skin friction, both connected with the fact that the adverse pressure gradient present on the suction side of the wing increases the wall-normal convection. The adverse-pressure-gradient boundary layer also exhibits a more prominent wake region, the development of an outer peak in the Reynolds-stress tensor components, and increased production and dissipation across the boundary layer. All these effects are connected with the fact that the large-scale motions of the flow become relatively more intense due to the adverse pressure gradient, as apparent from spanwise premultiplied power-spectral density maps. The emergence of an outer spectral peak is observed at β values of around 4 for λz ≃ 0.65δ99, closer to the wall than the spectral outer peak observed in zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers at higher Re𝜃. The effect of the slight favorable pressure gradient present on the pressure side of the wing is opposite the one of the adverse pressure gradient, leading to less energetic outer-layer structures.

Effect of Scaling of Blade Row Sectors on the Prediction of Aerodynamic Forcing in a Highly-Loaded Transonic Turbine Stage

The viability of a scaling technique in prediction of forced response of the stator and rotor blades in a turbine stage has been examined. Accordingly the so called parameter, generalized force, is defined which describes the excitation of a modeshape due to the unsteady flow forces at a certain frequency. The capability of this method to accurately predict the generalized forces serves as the viability criterion. The scaling technique modifies the geometry to obtain an integer stator, rotor blade count ratio in an annulus section while maintaining steady aerodynamic similarity. A non-scaled configuration is set up to serve as the reference case. Further configurations with different scaling ratios are also generated for accuracy comparison. Unsteady forces are calculated through 3D Navier-Stokes simulations by VolSol, which is based on an explicit, time-marching. A general purpose finite element model of blades is also provided to enable modal analysis with the harmonic forces. The generalized forces of stator and rotor blades revealed high sensitivity towards modification of stator blades while acceptable accuracy was obtained by moderate modifications of the rotor blades for first harmonic forces. Moreover the influence of variable blades structural characteristics proved to be remarkable.

Effect of Scaling of Blade Row Sectors on the Prediction of Aerodynamic Forcing in a Highly-Loaded Transonic Compressor Stage

In aeromechanical design one of the major rules is to operate under High Cyclic Fatigue (HCF) margins and away from flutter. The level of dynamic excitations and risk of HCF can be estimated by performing forced response analyses from blade row interaction forces or Low Engine Order (LEO) excitation mechanisms. On the other hand, flutter stability prediction can be assessed by calculation of aerodynamic damping forces due to blade motion. In order to include these analyses as regular practices in an industrial aeromechanical design process, interaction between the fields of fluid and structural dynamics must be established in a rather simple yet accurate manner. Effects such as aerodynamic and structural mistuning should also be taken into account where parametric and probabilistic studies take an important role. The present work presents the development and validation of a numerical tool for aeromechanical design. The tool aims to integrate in a standard and simple manner regular aeromechanical analysis such as forced response analysis and aerodynamic damping analysis of bladed disks. Mistuning influence on forced response and aerodynamic damping is assessed by implementing existing model order reduction techniques in order to decrease the computational effort and assess results in an industrially applicable time frame. The synthesis program solves the interaction of structure and fluid from existing Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solvers inputs by including a mapping program which establishes the fluid and structure mesh compatibility. Blade row interaction harmonic forces and/or blade motion aerodynamic damping forces are inputs from unsteady fluid dynamic solvers whereas the geometry, mass and stiffness matrices of a blade alone or bladed disk sector are inputs from finite element solvers. Structural and aerodynamic damping is also considered. Structural mistuning is assessed by importing different sectors and any combinations of the full disk model can be achieved by using Reduced Order Model (ROM) techniques. Aerodynamic mistuning data can also be imported and its effects on the forced response and stability assessed. The tool is developed in such a way to allow iterative analysis in a simple manner, being possible to realize aerodynamically and structurally coupled analyses of industrial bladed disks. A new method for performing aerodynamic coupled forced response and stability analyses considering the interaction of different mode families has also been implemented. The method is based on the determination of the aerodynamic matrices by means of least square approximations and is here referred as the Multimode Least Square (MLS) method. The present work includes the program description and its applicability is assessed on a high pressure ratio transonic compressor blade and on a simple blisk.