Experimental Investigation of the Aerodynamic Stability of an Annular Compressor Cascade Performing Tuned Pitching Oscillations in Transonic Flow

Abstract

A prerequisite for aeroelastic stability investigations on vibrating compressor cascades is the detailed knowledge of the unsteady aerodynamic loads acting on the blades. In order to obtain precise insight into the aerodynamic damping of a vibrating blade assembly, a basic experiment was performed where unsteady pressure distributions were measured for subsonic and transonic flow conditions. The experiments were performed on a non-rotating, two-dimensional section of a compressor cascade in an annular test facility. The cascade consists of 20 blades (NACA3506 profile) mounted on elastic spring suspensions. In order to measure the unsteady pressure distribution, the cascade was set to tuned pitching oscillations (traveling wave modes). Each blade was driven to controlled harmonic torsional motions around midchord by a magnetic excitation system and by inductive displacement probes which measure the feedback signal of the motion. Steady and unsteady pressures were measured by steady pressure taps and piezo-electric pressure transducers, respectively. The measurement of the unsteady aerodynamic response to a shock vibrating on the suction side of the blades was enabled by a dense spacing of transducers in this region. The global aerodynamic stability is assessed by a damping coefficient evaluated from the out-of-phase parts of the unsteady moment coefficients and by the contributions from the local work coefficient, using the measured pressure data.