Effect of unsteady wakes on aerodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of a turbine blade in a cascade were analyzed both experimentally and theoretically. Comprehensive aerodynamic data were collected for different wake passing frequencies that are typical of turbomachinery. Hot-wire probes were used for collection of boundary layer data on suction and pressure surfaces of the turbine blade. Heat transfer measurements were made using steady liquid crystal techniques. Boundary layer data were analyzed through intermittency function to get insight into the transition process under unsteady wake flow conditions. The experimental and theoretical results presented in this paper confirm the general validity of the unsteady boundary layer transition model developed by Chakka and Schobeiri (1997). This model is based on a relative intermittency function, which accounts for the effects of periodic unsteady wake flow on the boundary layer transition. Three distinct quantities are identified as primarily responsible for the transition of an unsteady boundary layer. These quantities, which exhibit the basis of the transition analysis presented in this paper, are: (1) relative intermittency, (2) maximum intermittency, and (3) minimum intermittency. To validate the developed transition model, it is implemented in an existing boundary layer code, and the resulting heat transfer coefficients are compared with the experimental data.
Boundary-Layer Transition Regions on Turbine Blade Suction Surfaces
