Coupled Axisymmetric and Plane Stress Finite Element Model for the Stress Analysis of an Aircraft Engine Compressor

Abstract

A coupled finite element model is proposed that can be used to carry out a static stress analysis of rotating parts. The rotating part consists of a disk modeled with four-node axisymmetric quadrilateral elements and blades modeled with four-node quadrilateral plane stress elements. The coupled finite element model is used to carry out a stress analysis of a simple rotor and complex aircraft engine compressor. The coupled model is compared to a solid ANSYS® finite element model using the twenty noded tetrahedral element. The major advantage of the coupled model over a three-dimensional model is that an analysis can be carried out quickly in the early design stage.