Linear Stability Analysis of LPT Rotor Packets: Part II — Three-Dimensional Results and Mistuning Effects

Abstract

Part II of this paper compares the aerodynamic damping of a modern Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) interlock bladed-disc to the one obtained when the blades are welded in pairs through the lateral face of the shroud. The damping is computed using the linearized Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations on a moving grid. It is concluded that the increase in stability of the welded-pair with respect the cantilever configuration due to the modification of the mode-shapes, is smaller than the one due to the overall raise of the reduced frequencies of a bladed-disc with an interlock design. The modification of the flutter boundaries due to mistuning effects is taken into account using the reduced order model known as the Fundamental Mistuning Model (FMM). It is shown that the modification on the stability limit of a interlock bladed-disc is negligible, while for a welded-pair configuration an increase of 0.15% on the critical damping may be expected. Two realistic welded-pair bladed-discs are analysed in this work. It is shown that both are aerodynamically unstable, which is in agreement with the experimental observations. Critical reduced frequency stability maps accounting for mistuning effects are derived for both, freestanding and welded in pairs airfoils. The airfoils are assumed to be identical and mechanically uncoupled. The stabilizing effect of mistuning is also retained in these maps.