Aeroelastic Response in an Oscillating Transonic Compressor Cascade—An Experimental and Numerical Approach

The steady-state aerodynamics and the aeroelastic response have been analyzed in an oscillating linear transonic cascade at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The investigated operating points (Π=1.29 and 1.25) represent an open-source virtual compressor (VINK) operating at a part speed line. At these conditions, a shock-induced separation mechanism is present on the suction side. In the cascade, the central blade vibrates in its first natural modeshape with a 0.69 reduced frequency, and the reference measurement span is 85%. The numerical results are computed from the commercial software Ansys CFX with an SST turbulence model, including a reattachment modification (RM). Steady-state results consist of a Laser-2-Focus anemometer (L2F), pressure taps, and flow visualization. Steady-state numerical results indicate good agreement with experimental data, including the reattachment line length, at both operating points, while discrepancies are observed at low-momentum regions within the passage. Experimental unsteady pressure coefficients at the oscillating blade display a fast amplitude decrease downstream, while numerical results overpredict the amplitude response. Numerical results indicate that, at the measurement plane, for both operating points, the harmonic amplitude is dominated by the shock location. At midspan, there is an interaction between the shock and the separation onset, where large pressure gradients are located. Experimental and numerical responses at blades adjacent to the oscillating blade are in good agreement at both operating points.