Direct Numerical Simulation of Interaction between Transient Flow and Blade Structure in a Modern Low-Pressure Turbine

• Published in: International journal of mechanical sciences 2021-02, Vol.192, p.106104, Article 106104
• Main Authors: Win Naung, Shine, Rahmati, Mohammad, Farokhi, Hamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aerodynamics; aeroelasticity; computational fluid dynamics; direct numerical simulation method; fluid-structure interaction; harmonic balance method; low-pressure turbines
• ISSN: 0020-7403; 1879-2162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2020.106104

•The interaction between the transient flow and the blade structure vibration in a modern low-pressure turbine is analysed using a high-fidelity direct numerical simulation method.•The unsteady flow and downstream wakes are highly influenced by the blade vibration.•The vortex structures are directly associated with the blade vibration.•The Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) models are not able to capture the flow separation and the behaviour of the unsteady flow.•At least 5 harmonics are required to resolve the necessary flow structures with the harmonic balance method. A feature of a modern aeronautical Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) is the high blade loadings with complex, transient and separated flow regimes. Most existing research have focused only on analysing the transient flow and flow separation in such turbines. The aerodynamics of a modern LPT, however, can be significantly influenced by the interaction between the unsteady flow field and the blade structure motion in a complex non-linear fashion which could lead to aeroelastic instabilities such as flutter. Therefore, the understanding of the mechanism of the interaction between the flow field unsteadiness and the blade structure in a modern LPT is essential to examine the vibration stress levels to ensure the blade mechanical integrity. The novelty of this paper, first and foremost, is using a high-fidelity direct numerical simulation method to explore the mechanism of flutter and forced response in a modern LPT, T106A turbine, and to study the effects of various sources of unsteadiness on the aeroelastic instabilities of the blade. Secondly, this paper investigates and identifies the adequate working ranges of the harmonic balance method, which has been widely used for the aeromechanical analysis of turbomachines, on predicting the behaviour of the highly unsteady flow due to fluid-structure interaction in an LPT. Another emphasis of this paper is the determination of the capability of the Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) model for the aeroelasticity analysis of an LPT involving the highly unsteady flow. This paper will bridge a key gap in the knowledge of aeroelasticity modelling and analysis of modern LPTs. [Display omitted]