Impact of Multi-Row Aerodynamic Interaction on the Forced Response Behaviour of an Embedded Compressor Rotor

Abstract

Abstract This paper focuses on the impact of multi-row interaction on the forced response behavior of an embedded compressor rotor at higher order modes. The authors in previous papers have discussed about the multi-row influence at the torsional mode resonant crossing and this paper extends the study to higher order modes. The paper talks about both the steady and unsteady influence of having additional rows in the configuration. It makes use of the time transformation (TT) method available in CFX to reduce the number of passages required in each row. Since the number of vanes from both the stators and the inlet guide vanes (IGV) is the same, the excitations from upstream rows and the potential field influence of the downstream row all contribute to the forcing, which is quantified both in terms of modal force and individual blade response. This paper describes the multi-row influence on the chordwise bending modes at both the peak efficiency (PE) and the high loading (HL) operating condition. To ascertain this influence, a 3-row case with just the two neighboring stators (S1, R2, S2 a 4-row case with the downstream rotor as well (S1, R2, S2, R3) and a 5-row with the upstream IGV were considered. While the 3-row case helped to determine the influence of neighboring stators on the forcing, the 4-row case provided the influence of the downstream rotor on the forced response behavior. Since the number of IGV vanes was the same as the neighboring stators the nature of interference between the stator and IGV wakes was determined as well. The 4-row case helped investigate physical wave reflections off a downstream rotating row, which had a significant influence on the modal force. The final section of the paper focuses on the mistuning response, which essentially couples frequency variations with the structural and aerodynamic aspects to predict individual blade responses, which are compared to experimental data. A mistuning analysis was carried out with the frequency mistuning present in the experimental facility Some of the key conclusions from this investigation are: 1) The interference of the IGV with the downstream stator (S1) is destructive at peak efficiency and constructive at high loading in line with the previous observation at torsional modes; 2) Physical wave reflections are constructive at all operating conditions at higher order modes unlike torsional modes where it was destructive; 3) The 3-row case gives the most accurate prediction in terms of average blade response and the 5-row case in terms of maximum blade response. Hence one of the significant findings is that, the aeromechanical behavior can be ascertained to a great deal of accuracy using just 3-rows at higher order modes crossings.