Experimental Investigation of Multistage Interaction Gust Aerodynamics

Abstract

The fundamental flow physics of multistage blade row interactions are experimentally investigated at realistic reduced frequency values. Unique data are obtained that describe the fundamental unsteady aerodynamic interaction phenomena on the stator vanes of a three-stage axial flow research compressor. In these experiments, the effect on vane row unsteady aerodynamics of the following are investigated and quantified: (1) steady vane aerodynamic loading; (2) aerodynamic forcing function waveform, including both the chordwise and transverse gust components; (3) solidity; (4) potential interactions; and (5) isolated airfoil steady flow separation.