Interaction of Concurrent Forced Response and Flutter Phenomena in a Compressor Stage

Author(s):  
Zhiping Mao ◽  
Robert E. Kielb

This paper studies a subsonic compressor case with concurrent forced response and flutter by using the Harmonic Balance method, and was inspired by historical experimental data. Forced response was observed when the rotating speed was approaching a crossing on the Campbell diagram, where flutter appeared to be suppressed. CFD simulations are conducted by using a quasi-3D configuration at the mid-span of one stage of a 3.5-stage compressor. Due to the constraint of frequency domain methods, the research is conducted in the vicinity of the 1T-44EO crossing with a small frequency shift between flutter frequency and external excitation frequency. The influence from flutter to forced response is observed: a one-way crosstalk at forced response frequency is observed, presented as the anomaly of unsteady velocity and unsteady pressure near the rear section of rotor blades and in the rotor wake region. The anomaly is speculated as the presence of increasing intensity of shedding vortices induced by the vibration of the blade. To further prove the impact of this viscous effect, a numerical experiment was performed with inviscid rotor blades. In contrast to the crosstalk at forced response frequency, no obvious influence on the unsteady behavior is detected at the flutter frequency, and this observation is confirmed at multiple vibration amplitudes. Considering the relationship between unsteady pressure at flutter frequency and aerodynamic damping, we conclude the influence of forced response on the aerodynamic damping is negligible. In addition, a linearity of unsteady pressure at the flutter frequency vs. vibration amplitude is uncovered. The discoveries provide a proof to linearity assumption and single-frequency simplification widely adopted by industry in flutter simulations.

Author(s):  
Joshua J. Waite ◽  
Robert E. Kielb

The three major aeroelastic issues in the turbomachinery blades of jet engines and power turbines are forced response, non-synchronous vibrations, and flutter. Flutter primarily affects high-aspect ratio blades found in the fan, fore high-pressure compressor stages, and aft low-pressure turbine (LPT) stages as low natural frequencies and high axial velocities create smaller reduced frequencies. Often with LPT flutter analyses, physical insights are lost in the exhaustive quest for determining whether the aerodynamic damping is positive or negative. This paper underlines some well known causes of low-pressure turbine flutter in addition to one novel catalyst. In particular, an emphasis is placed on revealing how local aerodynamic damping contributions change as a function of unsteady (e.g. mode shape, reduced frequency) and steady (e.g. blade torque, pressure ratio) parameters. To this end, frequency domain RANS CFD analyses are used as computational wind tunnels to investigate how aerodynamic loading variations affect flutter boundaries. Preliminary results show clear trends between the aerodynamic work influence coefficients and variations in exit Mach number and back pressure, especially for torsional mode shapes affecting the passage throat. Additionally, visualizations of qualitative bifurcations in the unsteady pressure phases around the airfoil shed light on how local damping contributions evolve with steady loading. Final results indicate a sharp drop in aeroelastic stability near specific regions of the pressure ratio indicating a strong correlation between blade loading and flutter. Passage throat shock behavior is shown to be a controlling factor near the trailing edge, and like critical reduced frequency, this phenomenon is shown to be highly dependent on the vibratory mode shape.


2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Waite ◽  
Robert E. Kielb

The three major aeroelastic issues in the turbomachinery blades of jet engines and power turbines are forced response, nonsynchronous vibrations, and flutter. Flutter primarily affects high-aspect ratio blades found in the fan, fore high-pressure compressor stages, and aft low-pressure turbine (LPT) stages as low natural frequencies and high axial velocities create smaller reduced frequencies. Often with LPT flutter analyses, physical insights are lost in the exhaustive quest for determining whether the aerodynamic damping is positive or negative. This paper underlines some well-known causes of the LPT flutter in addition to one novel catalyst. In particular, an emphasis is placed on revealing how local aerodynamic damping contributions change as a function of unsteady (e.g., mode shape, reduced frequency) and steady (e.g., blade torque, pressure ratio) parameters. To this end, frequency domain Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) CFD analyses are used as computational wind tunnels to investigate how aerodynamic loading variations affect flutter boundaries. Preliminary results show clear trends between the aerodynamic work influence coefficients and variations in exit Mach number and back pressure, especially for torsional mode shapes affecting the passage throat. Additionally, visualizations of qualitative bifurcations in the unsteady pressure phases around the airfoil shed light on how local damping contributions evolve with steady loading. Final results indicate a sharp drop in aeroelastic stability near specific regions of the pressure ratio, indicating a strong correlation between blade loading and flutter. Passage throat shock behavior is shown to be a controlling factor near the trailing edge, and as with critical reduced frequency, this phenomenon is shown to be highly dependent on the vibratory mode shape.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Bryan Rodríguez

Abstract In rotor-bearing systems, squeeze film dampers (SFDs) assist to reduce vibration amplitudes while traversing a critical speed and also offer a means to suppress rotor instabilities. Along with an elastic support element, SFDs are effective means to isolate a rotor from its casing. O-rings (ORs), piston rings (PRs) and side plates as end seals reduce leakage and air ingestion while amplifying the viscous damping in configurations with limited physical space. ORs also add a centering stiffness and damping to a SFD. The paper presents experiments to quantify the dynamic forced response of an O-rings sealed ends SFD (OR-SFD) lubricated with ISO VG2 oil supplied at a low pressure (0.7 bar(g)). The damper is 127 mm in diameter (D), short in axial length L = 0.2D, and the film clearance c = 0.279 mm. The lubricant flows into the film land through a mechanical check valve and exits through a single port. Upstream of the check valve, a large plenum filled with oil serves to attenuate dynamic pressure disturbances. Multiple sets of single-frequency dynamic loads, 10 Hz to 120 Hz, produce circular centered orbits with amplitudes r = 0.1c, 0.15c and 0.2c. The experimental results identify the test rig structure, ORs and SFD force coefficients; namely stiffness (K), mass (M) and viscous damping (C). The ORs coefficients are frequency independent and show a sizeable direct stiffness, KOR ∼ 50% of the test rig structure stiffness, along with a quadrature stiffness, K0∼0.26 KOR, demonstrative of material damping. The lubricated system damping coefficient equals CL = (CSFD + COR); the ORs contributing 10% to the total. The experimental SFD damping and inertia coefficients are large in physical magnitude; CSFD slightly grows with orbit size whereas MSFD is relatively constant. The added mass (MSFD) is approximately four-fold the bearing cartridge mass; hence, the test rig natural frequency drops by ∼50% once lubricated. A computational physics model predicts force coefficients that are just 10% lower than those estimated from experiments. The amplitude of measured dynamic pressures upstream of the plenum increases with excitation frequency. Unsuspectedly, during dynamic load operation, the check valve did allow for lubricant backflow into the plenum. Post-tests verification demonstrates that, under static pressure conditions, the check valve does work since it allows fluid flow in just one direction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Meinzer ◽  
Joerg R. Seume

Abstract Aerodynamic damping is the key parameter to determine the stability of vibrating blade rows in turbomachinery design. Both, the assessments of flutter and forced response vibrations need an accurate estimate of the aerodynamic damping to reduce the risk of high cycle fatigue that may result in blade loss. However, only very few attempts have been made to measure the aerodynamic damping of rotating blade rows experimentally under realistic operating conditions, but always with friction damping being present. This study closes the gap by providing an experiment in which a turbine blisk is used to eliminate friction damping at the blade roots and thereby isolate aerodynamic damping. The blades are excited acoustically and the resulting nodal diameter modes are measured using an optical tip-timing system in order to realize a fully non-intrusive setup. The measured vibration data are fitted to a single degree-of-freedom model (SDOF) to determine the aerodynamic damping. The results are in good accordance with the time-linearized CFD simulation. It is observed, however, that not only the sweep rate of the acoustic excitation but also the variation of the rotational frequency during the sweep excitation, and the excitation frequency influence the apparent damping.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis San Andre´s ◽  
Oscar De Santiago

Experimentally derived damping and inertia force coefficients from a test squeeze film damper for various dynamic load conditions are reported. Shakers exert single frequency loads and induce circular and elliptical orbits of increasing amplitudes. Measurements of the applied loads, bearing displacements and accelerations permit the identification of force coefficients for operation at three whirl frequencies (40, 50, and 60 Hz) and increasing lubricant temperatures. Measurements of film pressures reveal an early onset of air ingestion. Identified damping force coefficients agree well with predictions based on the short length bearing model only if an effective damper length is used. A published two-phase flow model for air entrainment allows the prediction of the effective damper length, and which ranges from 82% to 78% of the damper physical length as the whirl excitation frequency increases. Justifications for the effective length or reduced (flow) viscosity follow from the small through flow rate, not large enough to offset the dynamic volume changes. The measurements and analysis thus show the pervasiveness of air entrainment, whose effect increases with the amplitude and frequency of the dynamic journal motions. Identified inertia coefficients are approximately twice as large as those derived from classical theory.


Author(s):  
Dario Rubio ◽  
Luis San Andre´s

High performance oil-free turbomachinery implements gas foil bearings (FBs) to improve mechanical efficiency in compact units. FB design, however, is still largely empirical due to their mechanical complexity. The paper provides test results for the structural parameters in a bump-type foil bearing. The stiffness and damping (Coulomb or viscous type) coefficients characterize the bearing compliant structure. The test bearing, 38.1 mm in diameter and length, consists of a thin top foil supported on bump-foil strips. A prior investigation identified the stiffness due to static loads. Presently, the test FB is mounted on a non-rotating stiff shaft and a shaker exerts single frequency loads on the bearing. The dynamic tests are conducted at shaft surface temperatures from 25 °C to 75°C. Time and frequency domain methods are implemented to determine the FB parameters from the recorded periodic load and bearing motions. Both methods deliver identical parameters. The dry friction coefficient ranges from 0.05 to 0.20, increasing as the amplitude of load increases. The recorded motions evidence a resonance at the system natural frequency, i.e. null damping. The test derived equivalent viscous damping is inversely proportional to the motion amplitude and excitation frequency. The characteristic stick-slip of dry friction is dominant at small amplitude dynamic loads leading to a hardening effect (stiffening) of the FB structure. The operating temperature produces shaft growth generating a bearing preload. However, the temperature does not affect significantly the identified FB parameters, albeit the experimental range was too small considering the bearings intended use in industry.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Marco Gambitta ◽  
Arnold Kühhorn ◽  
Bernd Beirow ◽  
Sven Schrape

Abstract The manufacturing geometrical variability is an unavoidable source of uncertainty in the realization of machinery components. Deviations of a part geometry from its nominal design are inevitably present due to the manufacturing process. In the aeroelastic forced response problem within axial compressors, these uncertainties may affect the vibration characteristics. Therefore, the impact of geometrical uncertainties due to the manufacturing process onto the modal forcing of axial compressor blades is investigated. The research focuses on the vibrational behavior of an axial compressor rotor blisk. In particular, the amplitude of the forces acting as source of excitation on the vibrating blades is studied. The geometrical variability of the upstream stator is investigated as input uncertainty. The variability is modeled starting from a series of optical surface scans. A stochastic model is created to represent the measured manufacturing geometrical deviations from the nominal model. A data reduction methodology is proposed to represent the uncertainty with a minimal set of variables. The manufacturing geometrical variability model allows to represent the input uncertainty and probabilistically evaluate its impact on the aeroelastic problem. An uncertainty quantification is performed in order to evaluate the resulting variability on the modal forcing acting on the vibrating rotor blades. Of particular interest is the possible rise of low engine orders due to the mistuned flow field along the annulus. A reconstruction algorithm allows the representation of the variability during one rotor revolution. The uncertainty on low harmonics of the modal rotor forcing can be therefore identified and quantified.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Gambitta ◽  
Arnold Kühhorn ◽  
Bernd Beirow ◽  
Sven Schrape

Abstract The manufacturing geometrical variability is a source of uncertainty, which cannot be avoided in the realization of machinery components. Deviations of a part geometry from its nominal design are inevitably present due to the manufacturing process. In the case of the aeroelastic forced response problem within axial compressors, these uncertainties may affect the vibration characteristics. For this reason, the impact of geometrical uncertainties due to the manufacturing process onto the modal forcing of axial compressor blades is investigated in this study. The research focuses on the vibrational behavior of an axial compressor rotor blisk. In particular the amplitude of the forces acting as source of excitation on the vibrating blades is studied. The geometrical variability of the upstream stator is investigated as input uncertainty. The variability is modeled starting from a series of optical surface scans. A stochastic model is created to represent the measured manufacturing geometrical deviations from the nominal model. A data reduction methodology is proposed in order to represent the uncertainty with a minimal set of variables. The manufacturing geometrical variability model allows to represent the input uncertainty and probabilistically evaluate its impact on the aeroelastic problem. An uncertainty quantification is performed in order to evaluate the resulting variability on the modal forcing acting on the vibrating rotor blades. Of particular interest is the possible rise of low engine orders due to the mistuned flow field along the annulus. A reconstruction algorithm allows the representation of the variability during one rotor revolution. The uncertainty on low harmonics of the modal rotor forcing can be therefore identified and quantified.


Author(s):  
Johannes Linhard ◽  
Andreas Hartung ◽  
Stefan Schwarz ◽  
Hans-Peter Hackenberg ◽  
Mateusz Sienko

Abstract Recently, reliable non-linear dynamic solvers for the analysis of frictionally coupled turbine blades have been developed which are based on either Higher Harmonic Balance Method or Non-linear Modal Analysis. One of these tools is OrAgL which was developed by Institute of Dynamics of Vibrations (Leibniz University of Hannover) and Institute of Aircraft Propulsion Systems (University of Stuttgart). In [1], the rig and engine validation results of with OrAgL performed forced response analyses have been published: The main aim of this paper was the comparison of non-linear numerical predictions (amplitude, frequencies) with the blade-to-blade averaged values of optical measurement results obtained using MTU’s non-contact vibration measurement system for shrouded turbine blades (BSSM-T). Detailed analyses and validations performed over the last two years showed several novel aspects of validation such as the comparison with strain gauge measurements. Moreover, a better understanding of the impact of excitation (magnitude and load distribution over the airfoil) as well as of the impact of the mode shape on the formation of saturation regimes is now possible. The results obtained from the analyses of real turbine blades are presented in this work.


2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 494-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Rubio ◽  
Luis San Andres

High performance oil-free turbomachinery implements gas foil bearings (FBs) to improve mechanical efficiency in compact units. FB design, however, is still largely empirical due to its mechanical complexity. The paper provides test results for the structural parameters in a bump-type foil bearing. The stiffness and damping (Coulomb or viscous type) coefficients characterize the bearing compliant structure. The test bearing, 38.1mm in diameter and length, consists of a thin top foil supported on bump-foil strips. A prior investigation identified the stiffness due to static loads. Presently, the test FB is mounted on a non-rotating stiff shaft and a shaker exerts single frequency loads on the bearing. The dynamic tests are conducted at shaft surface temperatures from 25to75°C. Time and frequency domain methods are implemented to determine the FB parameters from the recorded periodic load and bearing motions. Both methods deliver identical parameters. The dry friction coefficient ranges from 0.05 to 0.20, increasing as the amplitude of load increases. The recorded motions evidence a resonance at the system natural frequency, i.e., null damping. The test derived equivalent viscous damping is inversely proportional to the motion amplitude and excitation frequency. The characteristic stick-slip of dry friction is dominant at small amplitude dynamic loads leading to a hardening effect (stiffening) of the FB structure. The operating temperature produces shaft growth generating a bearing preload. However, the temperature does not significantly affect the identified FB parameters, albeit the experimental range was too small considering the bearings intended use in industry.


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