Linearized Euler predictions of unsteady aerodynamic loads in cascades

Abstract

A linearized Euler solver for calculating unsteady flows in turbomachinery blade rows due to both incident gusts and vibratory blade motion is presented. Using the linearized Euler technique, one decomposes the flow into a mean (or steady) flow plus an unsteady, harmonically varying, small-disturbance flow. Linear variable coefficient equations describe the small-disturbance behavior of the flow and are solved using a pseudotime time-marching Lax-Wendroff scheme. For the blade-motion problem, a harmonically deforming computational grid that conforms to the motion of vibrating blades eliminates large error producing mean flow gradient terms that would otherwise appear in the unsteady flow tangency boundary condition