Optimization-Aided Forced Response Analysis of a Mistuned Compressor Blisk

Abstract

The forced response of the first rotor of an engine 3E (technology program) (E3E)-type high pressure compressor (HPC) blisk is analyzed with regard to varying mistuning, varying engine order (EO) excitations and the consideration of aero-elastic effects. For that purpose, subset of nominal system modes (SNM)-based reduced order models are used in which the disk remains unchanged while the Young's modulus of each blade is used to define experimentally adjusted as well as intentional mistuning patterns. The aerodynamic influence coefficient (AIC) technique is employed to model aero-elastic interactions. Furthermore, based on optimization analyses and depending on the exciting EO and aerodynamic influences it is searched for the worst as well as the best mistuning distributions with respect to the maximum blade displacement. Genetic algorithms using blade stiffness variations as vector of design variables and the maximum blade displacement as objective function are applied. An allowed limit of the blades' Young's modulus standard deviation is formulated as secondary condition. In particular, the question is addressed if and how far the aero-elastic impact, mainly causing aerodynamic damping, combined with mistuning can even yield a reduction of the forced response compared to the ideally tuned blisk. It is shown that the strong dependence of the aerodynamic damping on the interblade phase angle is the main driver for a possible response attenuation considering the fundamental blade mode. The results of the optimization analyses are compared to the forced response due to real, experimentally determined frequency mistuning as well as intentional mistuning.